Moratoriums, temporary bans, and building permit freezes on data center construction across the United States. Data Center Signal is tracking 12,851 clips related to moratorium across all 50 states.
Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and state Sen. Christine Drazan are using data centers as a political attack point in the Oregon gubernatorial race, focusing on tax breaks and local moratoriums. This comes amid widespread public opposition to data centers due to concerns over environmental impact, utility bills, and quality of life. Both candidates have records that critics are using to tie them to the issue.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul defended the state's data center moratorium, citing concerns over massive electricity consumption. She highlighted that five pending applications in St. Lawrence County alone would consume the equivalent power of one nuclear reactor, necessitating the statewide ban. Governor Hochul also noted that Texas Governor Greg Abbott followed New York's lead on such moratoriums.
Pennsylvania's data center sales-tax exemption is projected to cost the state significantly more than initially estimated, reaching $188.4 million for FY 2026-27. This growing cost provides a cautionary example for Rhode Island lawmakers, who recently considered their own data center tax incentives and proposals to manage electric and water costs. Additionally, an advocacy group has called for a two-year moratorium on new large data center construction in Rhode Island.
Lincoln County, Nebraska, has adopted a comprehensive set of stricter data center regulations, concluding three months of debate and work by the Planning Commission and County Board. These new rules address zoning loopholes and incorporate suggestions from community groups, aiming to prepare the county for potential future data center applications. The swift action was taken to pre-emptively establish clear guidelines, contrasting with nearby counties that enacted moratoriums due to a lack of existing regulations.
U.S. Senator Katie Britt supports former President Donald Trump's "Ratepayer Protection Pledge" regarding data centers, which aims to protect consumers from electricity price increases. Britt advocates for local control over data center placement, opposing a national moratorium while also stating that data centers shouldn't be built everywhere. She believes the issue is being used as a political wedge.
Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno is proposing federal legislation to claw back 100% of state and local tax incentives given to data centers in Ohio, citing concerns over economic benefits and taxpayer costs. This initiative follows Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's pause on new data center tax agreements due to soaring exemption costs and strain on the electric grid. The article highlights specific beneficiaries like Ark Data Centers and Cologix Inc., as well as legacy agreements with Amazon, Meta, and Google.
An opinion piece highlights the bipartisan agreement among Indiana residents in their opposition to data centers due to concerns over noise, pollution, property values, strained power grids, and high water usage. While state officials offer incentives for data center development, at least 17 counties, including Marion, Marshall, and Cass, have either paused new approvals or enacted outright bans to implement stricter regulations.
The Marion City Council is scheduled to discuss the possibility of banning data centers within the city limits. This discussion indicates potential new regulations or a moratorium on data center development in Marion, Ohio.
More than half of Maryland's counties have taken action to pause data center development, with some enacting outright bans and others considering new restrictions. This trend includes an outright ban in Harford County and pending restrictions in Anne Arundel County, reflecting a widespread move by local governments to regulate data center growth across the state.
Manteca mayoral candidates Gary Singh and Jacob Naven are debating the future of data center development in the city. Naven proposed addressing data center applications proactively, while Singh agreed on a temporary moratorium and suggested utilizing the city's treated wastewater for data center cooling. The discussion highlights concerns about energy and water consumption.
At least 15 counties in South Carolina have proposed or passed temporary moratoriums on data center development, driven by resident pushback and the absence of statewide regulations. Local governments, including Newberry and Fairfield counties, are using these pauses to study the potential impacts of data centers on energy, environment, and water resources. This trend comes as the state lacks comprehensive data center policies, while projects like Meta's in Aiken County and NorthMark's in Spartanburg County continue to advance.
The expanding issue of data centers has become a key topic in Nevada's Attorney General race. State Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro, a candidate, is pushing for greater regulation of the industry, requesting a 2027 bill draft. Her opponent, Guzman Fralick, supports Governor Lombardo's stance, viewing data centers as crucial revenue generators for counties.
The Springhill Township Board of Supervisors postponed votes on ordinances to regulate data centers and power plants to meet state notice requirements. They simultaneously enacted a temporary prohibition on new applications for these facilities until the next meeting. This comes amidst resident opposition and concerns about the adequacy of the proposed restrictions.
The Fort Madison City Council has directed its Planning & Zoning Commission to continue developing new ordinances to regulate future high-impact industrial projects, including data centers, and to explore expanding the city's zoning authority beyond its corporate limits. This initiative follows public concern and a county-level moratorium that halted a proposed data center project just outside the city.
This opinion piece argues that the debate around data center growth in North Carolina is driven by fear and misinformation, particularly regarding water and electricity consumption. It highlights that over 30 local governments in the state, including Charlotte, have imposed temporary data center moratoriums. The author advocates for fact-based evaluation and predictable rules to guide future development rather than hysteria.
Data centers across the Chesapeake Bay region are encountering significant development restrictions, including outright bans and moratoriums. This trend indicates a growing number of localities are implementing pauses or prohibitions on data center construction. The article highlights a regional pattern of regulatory actions impacting the industry.
The Tulsa City Council has approved a data center moratorium through the end of 2024 to allow time to evaluate the impact of these projects on the community. This includes assessing noise, odors, water, and energy usage, and potentially making changes to the city's zoning code. Phase two of Project Anthem, a large data center, is exempt from the moratorium and is currently undergoing its rezoning process.
Gorham, Maine, officials are considering a permanent ban on data centers, following a temporary moratorium enacted in June. Town councilors unanimously voted to have the planning board schedule a public hearing and explore changing the town's land use code to implement the permanent ban. Councilors expressed concerns that data centers do not provide meaningful community benefits.
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce launched an "Arizona Offline Pledge" to challenge residents advocating for a data center moratorium, urging them to give up data-center-reliant services. This initiative comes as Attorney General Kris Mayes calls for a moratorium due to water and power concerns, while Governor Katie Hobbs approved a budget including a three-year freeze on tax breaks for new data centers. Former President Donald Trump also weighed in, criticizing the anti-data center movement.
Orange County, Florida, is considering a temporary moratorium on new artificial intelligence (AI) data center applications. County Commissioner Kelly Martinez Simrad proposed the measure to study the potential strain on water and energy resources and to update county policies. A discussion on the proposal is scheduled for September 15th.