Lawsuits, legal challenges, and court decisions related to data center projects. Data Center Signal is tracking 3,914 clips related to legal across all 50 states.
A grassroots petition with over 700 signatures is pushing for a ban on data centers in Shasta County, California, due to environmental and resource concerns, despite no specific project proposal. The Shasta County Board of Supervisors is considering either a ban or developing new regulatory ordinances to govern future data center operations.
Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater has faced strong community opposition and political fallout over data center development, particularly concerning a controversial overlay zoning change. Despite legal rulings upholding the zoning by disallowing a public referendum, Fitzwater later enacted a pause on new data center applications. The lead developer, Catellus, has pledged $110 million in community benefits to mitigate local concerns.
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, is conducting a legal review of a proposed zoning ordinance that would restrict data centers to specific industrial and business districts across 19 municipalities. The amendment aims to regulate data center development, which is not addressed in the current zoning code, by requiring special exception approvals and establishing requirements for power, water, and emergency response plans. The county planning commission plans to vote on a recommendation for the county council after the legal review is complete.
The New Mexico Attorney General has filed motions in support of emergency petitions from two environmental groups challenging permits for Project Jupiter, an Oracle- and OpenAI-backed data center. The New Mexico Supreme Court previously granted stays on an air quality permit hearing and approval of water well drilling for the project. The Attorney General argues that state agencies failed to follow due process, especially regarding the emergency authorization for water extraction.
A group in Missouri has hired an environmental lawyer to actively fight against proposed data center projects in the state. This move indicates an escalation of opposition efforts, potentially leading to legal challenges based on environmental concerns.
A group in Missouri has engaged an environmental lawyer to challenge proposed data center developments within the state. This action indicates active opposition to these projects on environmental grounds.
An employee has filed a complaint with the Colorado Springs City Council, alleging that Springs Utilities senior leaders withheld over 300 text messages pertinent to a Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) request concerning the proposed Project Taurus data center. The withheld messages reportedly detailed discussions about electric capacity for the project and other controversial employee conduct. A local advocacy group, Integrity Matters, which initiated the CORA request, has learned of the complaint and is calling for the release of all documents.
A Franklin County judge ruled that a citizen-led petition to ban data centers using over 25 megawatts in Ottawa, Kansas, will appear on the November ballot. Residents consider this a win, despite an ongoing legal question about the ordinance's conformity to Kansas law. The city had initially chosen not to approve the ordinance or send it to voters.
Congressman Glenn Thompson introduced the "Not in My Barnyard Act," a federal bill aimed at protecting agricultural land from eminent domain proceedings, especially in the context of data center development. The bill comes amidst an intensifying political debate in Washington over artificial intelligence and data centers, with differing views on their economic impact and land use.
The Butte-Silver Bow County Commission voted to pursue a temporary moratorium on data center development, citing concerns over infrastructure, economic, environmental impacts, and electricity usage. This decision comes amidst ongoing debates and a separate legal battle where a district court sided with the county against a citizens group, which is now appealing to the Montana Supreme Court. The temporary pause aims to allow for more public engagement and thorough evaluation of the data center industry's future in the community.
AI data centers are facing widespread national backlash due to concerns over environmental impact, high resource consumption, and minimal local job creation. This opposition is manifesting in legislative efforts across various states and direct political consequences at the local level. An example is Festus, Missouri, where city council members were voted out after approving a new data center.
Residents in Vineland, New Jersey, have filed a lawsuit against DataOne over persistent, loud noise emanating from its 350-megawatt data center, which they claim disturbs sleep and causes vibrations. This case highlights a growing concern about noise pollution from data centers as the industry, particularly AI-related infrastructure, expands rapidly. The lawsuit seeks to address the nuisance caused by the facility's operational sounds.
Residents in Perry Township, Ohio, have initiated legal action by filing a lawsuit. The lawsuit challenges the approvals previously granted for a data center project in the area.
A judge has ruled that a specific data center project must undergo a full environmental review. This decision mandates a detailed assessment of the project's potential environmental impacts.
The developers of Project Mustang, a large data center and gas power plant near Taylor, Texas, have withdrawn their annexation application and will proceed with the project outside city limits. This decision follows a 90-day pause by the Taylor Planning and Zoning Commission on the annexation and zoning changes requested by the developer. The city is continuing negotiations with the developer to address community concerns regarding noise, water use, setbacks, and potential community benefits.
Salem Township Planning Commission in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, is attempting a third vote on a data center zoning overlay after a judge invalidated their second vote due to a Sunshine Act violation. The legal action was initiated by local plaintiffs, causing delays for a billion-dollar data center initiative that includes projects by Amazon and QTS.
NorthMark Compute and Cloud, developer of a controversial data center and 457-megawatt power plant in Spartanburg County, is donating $1 million to local educational organizations to build goodwill. The project faces ongoing community opposition due to concerns about noise and pollution, as well as legal challenges regarding its development classification and environmental permits. Despite a recent legal win concerning a state siting act, the company continues to navigate significant local resistance and regulatory scrutiny.
A proposed cryptocurrency mining center in Tyler faced a major setback when the City of Tyler board declined to hear its appeal for a West Erwin Street location. A legal battle concerning the project is ongoing.
A Johnson County District Court judge ruled that a citizen-led petition in Edgerton, Kansas, seeking to ban large data centers can move forward. The city had filed a lawsuit to stop the petition, arguing it was based on false information, but the judge found the city violated a state law protecting petition rights. This ruling allows residents to continue their efforts to classify data centers as industrial nuisances due to concerns over water and electricity use, and environmental impact.
Emporia voters will decide on two citizen-initiated ballot questions in November: one to prohibit 'high-impact data centers' exceeding specific power or water usage thresholds, and another to prohibit most battery energy storage systems (BESS). The city clarified its inability to alter the petition language and has filed a legal challenge regarding the data center proposal's eligibility and implementation.