Lawsuits, legal challenges, and court decisions related to data center projects. Data Center Signal is tracking 1,483 clips related to legal across all 50 states.
A Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling has slowed the development of a proposed 500,000-square-foot data center in Minnesota. This legal action has caused a pause in the project's progress.
Residents in Lyon Township, Michigan, are actively opposing Project Flex, a proposed data center developed by Verrus. During a planning commission meeting, residents voiced strong objections to the project. Verrus has asserted that the project meets all zoning and township codes and has threatened legal action if its approval is further delayed.
Caldwell County, Texas, faces a data center boom, with local officials and citizens pushing for greater local control to regulate developments due to concerns over energy and water consumption. They are advocating for state legislation to grant counties more land-use authority and proposing a moratorium, despite the state's historical move towards state supremacy over local control. Several data center projects, including those from Tract, Edged, and Powerhouse, are planned for the county.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has issued a ruling that is expected to slow data center development in Faribault. The court's decision favored the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.
The Festus City Council voted to reject recall elections for Mayor Sam Richards and three council members, who had previously voted in favor of a proposed hyperscale data center. The recall effort was sparked by citizen opposition to the data center project. The council's decision followed a legal opinion from the city attorney, who deemed the petitions insufficient, and aligned with a lawsuit filed by the targeted officials.
An 87-acre tract in Taylor, Texas, originally designated as parkland, has been sold to Blueprint for a $1 billion data center development. Local residents have opposed the project, filing a lawsuit that was dismissed by a state district court but is now under appeal. The City of Taylor maintains the property is zoned for industrial use and the project meets all requirements.
West Virginia lawmakers are actively promoting data center development statewide, downplaying resident concerns despite widespread protests and a recent lawsuit. This push follows state legislation, House Bill 2014, which removes local zoning control and accelerates approval processes for data center projects. Residents in Tucker and Putnam counties are vocally opposing specific projects, citing environmental impacts, resource strain, and a lack of transparency from developers, with one group initiating a legal challenge against an air quality permit.
Hays County leaders are set to vote on a proposed 180-day moratorium on water-intensive developments, including data centers, in unincorporated areas. The proposal, which follows a previously tabled moratorium due to lawsuit concerns, also seeks greater authority from the Texas Legislature to regulate data center development. This action comes amid rising concerns about water and power demand, as well as recent community opposition leading to a data center project rejection in San Marcos.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled against the city of Faribault and Archer Datacenters, slowing the development of a proposed 500,000 square foot data center. The court sided with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, which argued that residents lacked sufficient information regarding environmental impacts. The ruling requires more definitive information for the city to make a final decision, delaying the project.
A court ruling has significantly hindered the development plans for a data center in Faribault, Minnesota. This decision has led to legal battles for Faribault and other Minnesota cities concerning data center projects.
Lyon Township residents are actively opposing a proposed 1.8 million-square-foot data center by Verrus, known as Project Flex, despite its approval by the Planning Commission in September 2025. Verrus has threatened legal action if the project faces further delays, while State Sen. Jim Runestad, a vocal opponent, has proposed a one-year statewide moratorium on data centers.
Two Box Elder County commissioners, Lee Perry and Boyd Bingham, are facing reelection challenges primarily due to their votes in favor of the controversial Stratos Area data center project in Hansel Valley. Opponents are actively campaigning against them and have filed a lawsuit to force a public vote on the resolutions that allowed the project to proceed.
Hazle Township supervisors have enacted a 180-day moratorium on zoning challenges related to data centers, following a court ruling regarding the proposed Project Hazelnut campus. This temporary pause will allow the township to draft specific new zoning regulations for data centers. Residents are actively advocating for strict limitations on future data center development.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled that the review process for a data center project in Faribault was inadequate. This legal decision indicates a flaw in the approval or assessment procedure for the development. The ruling may impact the future of the data center project.
Hazle Township supervisors, following a court decision upholding their denial of the Project Hazelnut data center, approved a resolution to draft new data center zoning regulations within 180 days. This action pre-empts further legal challenges on zoning ordinance deficiencies and was met with applause from residents opposing the project.
A proposed DC BLOX data center near the Nashville Zoo faces significant public opposition, with a petition gaining over 300,000 signatures. The Nashville Zoo has escalated its fight by filing a zoning appeal to overturn approved permits, and a Metro Councilmember has introduced legislation to restrict data centers in the city.
A court has ruled that a data center project in Faribault, Minnesota, must undergo a more intensive environmental review. This decision could significantly impact the project's development timeline and requirements. The ruling implies that the previous environmental assessment was deemed insufficient.
A new proposal from an unnamed business trade group in Ohio is causing concern among farmers. They fear the proposal could allow the state and utility companies to use eminent domain to take private property. This land acquisition would facilitate the construction of data centers and related infrastructure.
A proposed DC BLOX data center near the Nashville Zoo faces significant public opposition, with a petition gaining over 328,000 signatures. The Nashville Zoo has filed a zoning appeal to overturn previously approved permits for the project. Additionally, a Metro Councilmember has introduced legislation to restrict and regulate large data centers in the city.
Lee County officials deny that a data center is planned for a 387-acre property near Nelson, despite public protests and a removed real estate listing. Local residents had initiated a petition citing concerns about farmland, rural character, and environmental health, leading to the county implementing a technology overlay zoning district to regulate potential future developments. Governor JB Pritzker has also halted state tax incentives for data centers.