Moratoriums, temporary bans, and building permit freezes on data center construction across the United States. Data Center Signal is tracking 4,003 clips related to moratorium across all 50 states.
The Village Board in Greenville, Wisconsin, is scheduled to vote on whether to implement a one-year moratorium on new data center developments. This pause would allow village officials to research potential impacts and develop regulations for future data center projects, as no proposals have yet been received.
Charlotte City Council is scheduled to vote on a proposed 150-day moratorium on new data center construction. Supporters argue it's necessary to study the potential environmental, water, and energy impacts of these facilities. This follows recent strong community pushback against a developer's proposal.
Hood County, Texas, is experiencing a data center boom with eight proposed projects, leading to significant resident opposition. Efforts by county officials to enact a moratorium failed, but new development rules were adopted, resulting in developers suing the county. The situation highlights the limited power of local governments in unincorporated areas regarding large-scale development.
Organizers in Lubbock, Texas, led by Stephen Sanders, are seeking signatures by August 3 for a petition to enact an 18-month moratorium on new data center permits, zoning changes, and infrastructure agreements within the city. If successful, the City Council must either adopt the resolution or put it to a public vote. Mayor Mark McBrayer and LEDA CEO John Osborne expressed concerns that the moratorium could push data center development to Lubbock County, where it would be outside city oversight and regulation.
Developers PointOne and Helix Ventures have proposed a 300,000 sq ft data center in northern Lee County, NC, to be operated by CyrusOne. The project is currently in the permit application phase and is valued at $900 million, promising significant tax revenue. It follows local controversy over data centers, which led to new county-wide regulations.
The Clinton City Council in Iowa is scheduled to vote on a 120-day moratorium on data center development, following significant opposition from residents. The moratorium aims to give the city time to enact new rules and regulations for data centers. QTS Data Centers proposes to build an AI-driven campus in Clinton, promising a multibillion-dollar investment.
Texas is facing an unprecedented surge in proposed large data centers, with over 480 projects seeking to connect to the ERCOT grid by 2032, demanding nearly five times the state's record power demand. This boom is creating significant concerns about grid capacity, rising electricity costs, and water resources, leading to calls for new regulations and potential moratoriums. While many proposals are speculative, the situation necessitates substantial grid expansion and policy adjustments across the state.
The Box Elder Accountability Referendum (B.E.A.R.) is urging Box Elder County commissioners to discuss and potentially enact a moratorium on the proposed Stratos Project data center. The group is also actively pursuing two lawsuits, challenging the county's approval of the project and their denied application to place it on the ballot. A public meeting is scheduled for June 10 to discuss the moratorium.
New York state lawmakers recently passed a one-year moratorium on data center construction, enacted just before the end of the legislative session. This decision has ignited ongoing debate over the controversial projects, with differing opinions on the pause in development.
AI data centers are proliferating across America, with the Shreveport-Bossier area in Northwest Louisiana seeing three Amazon data centers under construction. Local residents express concerns about water usage and environmental impact. Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has launched a website to provide resources and raise awareness about data center impacts and community concerns nationwide.
The city of Edmond is considering implementing a moratorium on data center development. This consideration stems from concerns regarding water usage and zoning implications associated with these facilities. The potential moratorium is a response to ongoing worries about the impact of data centers on local resources and urban planning.
Opposition to data center projects significantly impacted several local primary elections across Kentucky. In Oldham County, candidates who opposed a data center project, including Rob Houchens, won their races after successfully blocking a major development last year. The issue also influenced outcomes in Simpson, Meade, and Mason counties, with varying degrees of success for anti-data center candidates.
Members of the Emporia community protested the proposed Flint Hills Digital Campus, expressing concerns over its environmental and water impacts. Opponents are calling for a moratorium on the project, advocating for an independent environmental impact study. The city of Emporia's Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the matter.
Edmond, Oklahoma city leaders are set to discuss a potential temporary moratorium on future data center projects due to concerns about their impact on the city's water and electricity resources. The proposed pause could last through 2026, allowing officials to study the implications for development regulations and the city's recently expanded water treatment capacity.
The Village of Greenville, Wisconsin, is considering a moratorium on data center development. The local public works director has expressed concerns that the village's current water supply would be insufficient to meet the demands of a data center.
Hill County commissioners ended a temporary ban on data center construction, replacing it with a new checklist and requirements. This decision followed a lawsuit against the county over the one-year moratorium and aims to protect citizens while addressing concerns like traffic, bridge capacity, and water demand.
The State Assembly has passed legislation to enact a one-year, state-wide moratorium on data center development. This decision indicates a significant policy shift impacting data center projects across the state of New York.
Hill County, Texas, has rescinded its data center moratorium after a developer, RCM Hill, LLC, filed a $100 million lawsuit against the county. The Hill County Commissioners voted to end the temporary pause and adopted a new checklist of requirements for data center developers. County Judge Shane Brassell still views the moratorium as a success for bringing undesirable projects to light and buying time for new regulations.
The Charlotte City Council is expected to vote on a proposed 150-day moratorium on new data centers to address concerns about water consumption, noise, and potential impacts on energy costs for residents. This local debate aligns with a state bill, Senate Bill 730, advancing through the North Carolina legislature to require water limits and noise studies for data centers.
The Leeds City Council in Alabama is scheduled to vote on a proposed data center moratorium. The specific details of the moratorium or the voting date are not provided in the article.