Data center activity in Alaska
The Sitka Planning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend defining data centers in the city zoning code and prohibiting their development in all zones for now. The recommendation will go to the Sitka Assembly, amid concerns about energy and water consumption, environmental impacts, pollution and public safety.
Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins proposed a temporary moratorium on permits for large data centers through the end of 2027. The proposal follows public concerns and would give borough officials time to develop regulations for facilities using at least 5 megawatts of electricity or covering more than 50,000 square feet.
The Sitka Planning Commission recommended action to keep data centers out of the city until local protections are established. The move comes as data center developers express interest in Alaska.
Candidates Ky Holland and John Boyle offered competing views on data center development as they campaign for an Alaska House seat representing South Anchorage. Holland favors smaller, purpose-built facilities and doubts Alaska can support hyperscale projects, while Boyle supports exploring large data centers, including STAK Energy's proposed 3-gigawatt North Slope development, if environmental and infrastructure impacts are managed.
Cook Inletkeeper plans to oppose DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC’s proposed underwater data center and tidal energy project near Nikiski, citing risks to salmon, endangered beluga whales and commercial fishing. The Kenai Peninsula Borough has intervened in the federal review without taking a position, while public comments on the preliminary permit application are due Nov. 2.
Sitka city leaders are recommending changes to the city’s zoning code to address data center development. The recommendations come as proposals for data centers emerge in Southeast Alaska and elsewhere in the state.
A letter in the Anchorage Daily News opposes Deep Green’s proposed data center in Cook Inlet, citing engineering, permitting and environmental risks associated with an underwater facility. The writer suggests building a land-based data center in Alaska that could use waste heat for homes or hydroponic agriculture.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks' Alaska Center for Energy and Power released a guide to help Alaskans discuss whether and how data centers should fit into their communities. The guide addresses energy, water, land, infrastructure, jobs and governance but does not evaluate a specific project or location.
The Petersburg Borough Assembly is considering a proposed nine-month moratorium on permits for data centers that exceed the local electrical grid’s capacity or do not use closed-loop cooling systems. The Assembly will also consider directing staff to draft zoning regulations for data centers, which are not currently addressed in borough code.
Candidates for the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly are debating the future of data centers in the area, following a Department of Defense plan for a data center near Eielson Air Force Base and a subsequent borough vote for a statewide moratorium. Key concerns include the strain on the existing power grid, high energy costs, and environmental impacts. Voters will decide on October 6th.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly recently voted to adopt legislative priorities for 2027, which include a moratorium on commercial data centers on municipal or state-owned lands, pending the creation of community concern standards. Candidates for Assembly seats are actively discussing and weighing in on the controversial issue, raising concerns about environmental impact, strain on the electricity grid, and energy costs. The debate highlights the community's divided opinion on data center development in the region.
Independent candidate Bill Hill is calling on Congress to regulate data center development in Alaska, citing concerns over energy costs and local impact. This stance is in opposition to his opponent, Nick Begich, who proposes a bill to facilitate data center construction by allowing them to operate separate energy grids.
The Pentagon's plans to build military data centers near US bases, including sites in Alaska, are facing significant opposition from local residents and leaders due to concerns about noise and strain on the electricity grid. While the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly has called for a moratorium, local officials acknowledge limited power over federal military land. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski also expressed concerns about Alaska's energy capacity to support such projects.
Fishing and wildlife groups, along with the Kenai Peninsula Borough, are opposing a proposed 100-megawatt underwater data center by DeepGreen in Alaska's Cook Inlet. Concerns include potential harm to salmon fisheries and endangered beluga whales from noise, pollution, and heat, as well as the company's lack of experience. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has opened a public comment period on DeepGreen's preliminary permit application.
The Petersburg Borough Assembly is scheduled to consider a recommendation from its Planning Commission to enact a one-year moratorium on data center land use applications and building permits. This proposal aims to allow time to study the impacts of data centers and amend existing borough code, following community opposition to a proposed data center project.
This article discusses the positions of the four candidates for governor in Alaska regarding data centers. It explores where each candidate stands on data center development and policies within the state.
This article provides a rare look inside an Equinix data center, highlighting its role in powering AI, banking, and streaming services. It details the facility's 34-megawatt power consumption and air cooling methods. The piece also touches on community concerns regarding the electricity and water usage associated with data center expansion.
Lawmakers in Alaska are raising legal concerns over a proposed transfer of 20,000 acres of state land to the Alaska Industrial Development Export Authority (AIDEA) for an industrial park, which could potentially include data centers. They argue the transfer may violate the Alaska Constitution due to vague public purpose definitions. Concerns are also being raised about data centers exacerbating the state's energy shortage, with one Senator advocating for a moratorium on data center development.
The U.S. Air Force is exploring the use of 4,700 acres of underutilized military land across Alaska for potential AI data centers, including JBER, Eielson Air Force Base, and Clear Space Force Station. This exploration has raised concerns from environmental advocates and Anchorage residents regarding the potential strain on local power and water infrastructure, noise, and reliance on "dirty energy." No approvals have been made yet, with calls for regulations and safeguards.
Alaska senators are scrutinizing the legality of a state land transfer in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. This transfer is being considered as a potential site for future data center development. The senators' inquiry raises questions about the legitimacy of the land deal.