Chelan County PUD enacted a moratorium on power requests of 1 MW or more in December 2014, prompted by influx of bitcoin miners drawn to cheap hydropower. Led to creation of a High Density Load rate in 2016. A second moratorium was imposed March 2018 when applications surged again. 28+ unauthorized operations identified; 19 shut down with $5K-10K enforcement fees.

East Wenatchee Council passed a 6-month interim zoning ordinance restricting cryptocurrency operations to Central Business and General Commercial districts only, and prohibiting use of cargo containers for crypto mining. Part of a broader regional wave: Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Entiat, Waterville, and Chelan also passed emergency controls.

Bitcoin Mining Data Center
Franklin County Commission denied rezoning for Red Dog Technologies' proposed Bitcoin mining data center near Tullahoma. Residents said noise would be unbearable and damage property values. The denial was one of the early examples of local opposition to crypto mining data centers in Tennessee. The project involves a 35 MW capacity, $70 million in investment. Opposition was led by Spring Creek Road Residents.

Groton Planning and Zoning Commission placed a 1-year moratorium on data centers larger than 5,000 sq ft in June 2022. Previously, data centers were classified as "telecommunications facilities." Replaced by permanent data center zoning regulations adopted July 2023 (Section 5.1-6.F). Groton now has an active data center Host Municipality Fee Agreement. The project involves the NE Edge proposal, 160 MW capacity.

Clay County unanimously approved a permanent ban on commercial cryptocurrency mining facilities in August 2022. Prompted by noise, electricity, and waste problems from crypto mines in neighboring Cherokee County. Residential/personal crypto mining is exempted. Key concerns driving this action include environmental impacts. The community successfully achieved its objective.

Henderson County passed a 60-day moratorium on cryptocurrency mining on May 1, 2023, citing noise, energy, and e-waste concerns. The moratorium was replaced by permanent Land Development Code amendments establishing zoning requirements for crypto mining. State Sen. Tim Moffitt also sponsored SB 774 granting Henderson, Polk, and Rutherford counties authority to regulate crypto mining.

Buncombe County (Asheville area) unanimously passed a 1-year moratorium on cryptocurrency mining on May 2, 2023. Extended in May 2024 for another year through May 2025. The county developed permanent regulations to replace the moratorium. Commissioner Terri Wells proposed the moratorium after hearing complaints from Cherokee County residents.

Harrison passed a moratorium on data centers and crypto mining on May 25, 2023 after hundreds of residents objected to a Green Digital LLC crypto facility (a subsidiary with Chinese Communist Party ownership ties). The moratorium was actively removed on Nov 28, 2023 (~6 months in) after Arkansas Act 851 ("Right to Mine" law) preempted local regulation of crypto mining. The project involves 5 acres.

Roundhouse Digital Infrastructure planned a $100M, 10MW data center at the Port of Cascade Locks in the Columbia River Gorge, about 40 miles east of Portland. The facility would have more than doubled the area's power draw. Residents raised concerns about electricity supply impacts, the developer's lack of experience, and unclear funding. Opposition was a key issue in local elections that saw voters recall two officials who backed the project, with two other data center advocates losing re-election bids. Following the recall, the new port authority board canceled the project in July 2023. Friends of the Columbia Gorge was a key opposition group. The project involves 10 acres.

CT Siting Council denied Dominion Energy's petition to modify Millstone Power Station boundaries for NE Edge's 1.5M sq ft hyperscale data center (300MW, ~15% of reactor output). Concerned Citizens of Waterford and East Lyme (CCWEL) organized opposition. The project involves 55 acres. The community's stated objective was to deny NE Edge 300MW data center at Millstone Power Station.
Concerned Citizens of Waterford and East Lyme (CCWEL)

Santa Clara Planning Commission denied a 72MW data center permit at 2805 Bowers Ave (4-2 vote). Chair noted the city has 50+ data centers consuming 60% of its energy and asked 'when is it too many?' GI Partners appealed; City Council approved the project Aug 29, 2024. The community's stated objective was to uphold denial of GI Partners data center on appeal. The project involves 5 acres.

Applied Digital proposed a 200MW, $1.5B data center with two 300,000 sq ft buildings adjacent to a NextEra substation connected to wind farms in Guthrie and Audubon counties. Supervisors drafted a setback ordinance after a county meeting on April 2, 2024, but put it on hold after the third reading was not completed, opting to consult further with legal counsel. As of early 2026, no formal ordinance has been adopted and the county still has no comprehensive zoning plan, leaving limited regulatory tools to govern the project. The project remains in early-stage limbo with no public groundbreaking confirmed.

Project Range
Tract withdrew its $14B 'Project Range' application for a 30-building, 5.6M sq ft data center campus on ~1,000 acres near Yuma and Perryville roads in unincorporated Maricopa County. Adjacent cities of Goodyear, Arizona, and Buckeye sent letters voicing concerns about the project, citing 'incompatibility' with surrounding residential neighborhoods and concerns about building heights, noise, and emergency resources. Denver-based Tract subsequently announced a 1,700-acre alternative campus in Buckeye south of I-10.

Brassie Golf Course Data Center
Provident Realty Advisors proposed a $1.3B data center on the 200-acre former Brassie Golf Course site along Pearson Road. The plan called for eight buildings at 150,000 sq ft each with backup generators. At a Memorial Day meeting, 60-75 residents gathered at Dogwood Park voicing concerns about noise, air quality, water, wetlands, wildlife, property values, and mental health impacts. The developer proposed landscaping buffers and noise suppressors. The Town Council declared it could 'never support this project' at its current scale, and Provident abandoned the proposal on June 10, 2024. The developer subsequently moved to Burns Harbor with a similar proposal.
Stop Duneland and Valpo/Wheeler Data Centers

DeKalb County, Tennessee, Commission, considered data center regulations proposed by County Mayor Matt Adcock after receiving an inquiry about a nuclear-powered data center. The proposed resolution would prohibit data centers within 5,000 feet of residences, schools, daycares, parks, churches, commercial, or industrial establishments. Commissioner Tom Chandler called the resolution 'a sham' arguing the 5,000-foot restriction makes permit approval impossible anywhere in the county. The commission has continued to defer action on the resolution and has not adopted a final ordinance as of early 2026.

NextEra Energy / Clinton County Wind LLC
Clinton County enacted a moratorium on wind project applications on June 10, 2024, extended multiple times through September 2025, prompted by NextEra Energy and Sky Pilot Wind/Ranger Power outreach to Delmar and Grand Mound residents. A separate resolution to end the county's data mining facility moratorium was presented on December 8, 2025, but no action was taken — the data center moratorium remains in effect. Iowa is seeing a statewide wave of data center regulation, with Linn County adopting one of the nation's strictest local zoning ordinances in February 2026.

Multiple (QTS, Switch, CyrusOne, and others)
Atlanta City Council enacted data center zoning restrictions in phases. In September 2024, data centers were prohibited within 2,640 feet of high-capacity transit stops and banned within the Beltline Overlay District. In June 2025, the council expanded restrictions by requiring special-use permits for all data center construction and outright barring projects in Little Five Points and East Atlanta Village neighborhoods. The ordinances apply to major operators including QTS, Switch, and others.

Plaza 500 Data Center
Starwood Capital Group (SCG Global Holdings LLC)
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted a Data Centers Zoning Ordinance Amendment on September 10, 2024, requiring a special exception for almost all data centers. The amendment imposes new restrictions on design, setbacks from residential uses, noise, and environmental concerns. Starwood Capital Group continues expanding in the county, converting a former NFL practice facility into data centers and proposing to buy 41.7 acres of county-owned land for $166.8M. The Plaza 500 site plan (461,444 sq ft) proceeds under pre-amendment by-right rules. The project involves 42 acres.

Morton County adopted a moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities in September 2024. The moratorium prevents permitting of these facilities until the county establishes local zoning regulations. The action came alongside a moratorium on direct air carbon capture facilities (adopted July 2024) after controversy over a Colorado company's special use permit application. County officials stated the moratoriums aim to develop local land use protections for residents, not block development entirely.

Jackson County enacted a data mining facility moratorium in September 2024 (Resolution #1066), which was lifted in November 2024 after supervisors and county staff studied the issue. The moratorium was described as a 'pause for fact-finding,' not a permanent stop. Simple Mining subsequently outlined plans for a data-mining facility at the Manchester Industrial Park, with the site plan receiving approval from the Manchester City Council. The facility would be the largest of Cedar Falls-based Simple Mining's operations.

Data Factory Austin proceeded with bitcoin mining near Thorndale despite city opposition. The city passed a resolution voicing concerns about the 15 MW facility, and residents launched a Change.org petition. However, Data Factory leased a 10-acre site 2.5 miles north of Thorndale on FM 486 and began operations. Existing noise complaints from a 10 MW Data Factory mine near Rockdale peaked at 99 decibels. The company plans to expand from 15 MW to 35 MW by 2026 and add GPU-powered data centers. Thorndale lacks jurisdiction over the site outside city limits.

Harper Road Technology Park
Peculiar originally added a 'data center' definition to its light industrial zoning, enabling Diode Ventures' proposed $1.5B Harper Road Technology Park — a 500-acre campus with multiple buildings next to homes and businesses. A Facebook group called 'Don't Dump Data in Peculiar' grew to nearly 1,000 members (about 1/6 of the city's population). After hundreds of residents called on local leaders to reverse course, the Planning Commission Board announced on October 3, 2024 an ordinance removing data centers from the zoning code, effectively blocking the project. The mayor claimed aldermen were pressured by a 'boisterous and ill-informed group.' The project involves 750 MW capacity.

Jones County enacted a moratorium on data center development circa October 2024. The moratorium was replaced by a permanent Cryptocurrency and Data Center Ordinance restricting such facilities to agricultural, commercial, and industrial zoning districts via Special Permitted Use application. Key concerns driving this action include community impacts. The community successfully achieved its objective.

US Development filed to rezone 434 acres from agricultural to industrial near Yeehaw Junction for a nine-building, 7+ million sq ft data center campus, with each three-story building spanning 675,000 sq ft. The site on U.S. 441 is adjacent to the 27,000-acre DeLuca Preserve, one of Florida's largest nature preserves and crucial habitat for the endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow. The project has run into community opposition and is part of a wider Florida pattern where Gov. DeSantis and environmentalists have forged an unusual alliance against thirsty AI data centers. As of early 2026, no formal rezoning approval has been granted.

Gilmer County Crypto Mining Facility
Undisclosed (crypto mining facility proposed on Eller Road)
Gilmer County residents successfully blocked a proposed cryptocurrency server farm on Eller Road in Ellijay. Cyndie Roberson, cofounder of Gilmer County Citizens Against Crypto Mining, mobilized hundreds of residents to challenge the rezoning at planning commission meetings. The county subsequently enacted a ban on crypto mining — the only such ban in Georgia. Roberson now serves as the National Coalition Against Cryptomining's Southeastern Alliance representative. Neighboring Fannin County also enacted a crypto mining ban.
Gilmer County Citizens Against Crypto Mining
Gilmer County Citizens Against AI Data Centers

A $3-4 billion, 2.7M sq ft hyperscale data center campus proposed at 199 Servistar Industrial Way. State legislature passed a 20-year sales tax exemption. By Dec 2025, developers appear to have abandoned the project. Conservation Law Foundation raised concerns about insufficient environmental safeguards. The project involves the Servistar Realties proposal, 155 acres.

Project Blue
The Pima County Board of Supervisors approved Project Blue's CUP zoning amendment and the sale of 290 acres for nearly $21M to Beale Infrastructure on Christmas Eve 2025, despite significant community opposition. Project Blue (originally rejected by Tucson and abandoned by Amazon) was revived by Beale Infrastructure. Construction is anticipated to span 2026-2028 with 3,000+ direct construction jobs and 180 permanent jobs by the third year. In January 2026, opponents filed suit in Pima County Superior Court alleging violations of Arizona's open meeting laws and inadequate public notice. AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes is also asking a court to vacate the Arizona Corporation Commission's separate approval of the project's energy plan. In February 2026, Marana rejected referendums against Project Blue rezoning.
Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest

Applied Digital (reported interest; no formal project filed)
Over 200 people packed the Betty Hagel Memorial Civic Center in Center, ND as Oliver County leaders debated a proposed moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining. The Oliver County Commission voted 3-0 to adopt a moratorium on December 12, 2024, suspending development of all data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities. The Planning & Zoning Board had previously passed the moratorium unanimously. The purpose is to allow the county adequate time to conduct research and develop standards to guide future development. Nearby Mercer County also voted 3-2 to suspend data center development for one year, as concerns spread across western North Dakota. The project involves the Applied Digital proposal.

Connecticut enacted SB 1292, requiring AI data center owners and operators to submit quarterly reports to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection on energy and water consumption. The law authorizes the commissioner to adopt regulations concerning water and energy efficiency standards for data centers.

Black Mountain Power LLC has obtained rezoning approval for over 450 acres in southeast Fort Worth for a $10B data center. The City Council approved zoning changes in multiple phases: 141 acres in January 2025, 171 additional acres in June, and 119 more acres on September 30. However, in February 2026, city officials tabled a vote on further land expansion, citing concerns about infrastructure, resources, and land usage. Residents have asked council to reject additional zoning changes, citing noise pollution, traffic congestion, and water usage. The project involves 530 acres.

North Dakota's HB 1579, originally introduced to create a state siting process for large electricity users (50+ MW), was significantly amended — the siting process was stripped and replaced with a mandate for an interim legislative study on the impact of large energy consumers on the state's electrical grid. Passed House 89-3, Senate 46-0. Signed April 28, 2025.

Stargate
OpenAI's Stargate project — announced by President Trump as a $500B AI infrastructure initiative — is building its first campus on 875 acres in Abilene. The facility will draw up to 1.2 GW of power across eight 500,000 sq ft 'AI factory' halls. A $500M on-site Lancium natural gas power plant will pollute the surrounding community, putting residents at increased risk of asthma and respiratory disease. The project has sparked a housing crisis — thousands of construction workers flooded the city, driving up rents and forcing vulnerable people onto the streets. Despite $100B+ in investment, only 357 permanent jobs are promised (avg salary $57,600). Crusoe received an 85% property tax abatement on billions of infrastructure, causing Abilene to forgo enormous potential revenue. Former school board member Samuel Garcia was among the few vocal opponents questioning water and power impacts. The project involves $3.4B investment.

Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter appealed the Planning Commission's approval of Webb Data Center's 82,000 sq ft facility, arguing the city established zoning guidelines without public input and citing open meeting law violations. On January 22, 2025, the Reno City Council denied the Sierra Club's appeal after multiple contentious meetings, effectively upholding the data center approval. The Webb Data Center will be the first data center within Reno city limits, located in the North Valleys adjacent to an Amazon warehouse. The Reno Planning Commission subsequently recommended a temporary pause on filing and issuing permits for future data centers. The project involves 28.5 MW capacity, 6 acres.

Multiple Minnesota data center bills are in play. Sen. Jen McEwen (DFL-Duluth) introduced legislation imposing a two-year moratorium on new hyperscale data center permits while the state studies long-term effects. Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley) pursued legislation to prohibit NDAs for data centers and end tax exemptions. Per MultiState's March 2026 tracker, none of the statewide moratorium proposals have passed their originating chamber, though NDA bans have gained traction in committees. Hundreds of opponents rallied at the State Capitol on Feb 18-20, 2026. The City of Eagan passed a one-year moratorium, believed to be the first Minnesota municipality to take such action. Previously, HF 16 (2025 special session) passed and was signed into law (effective June 15, 2025), establishing initial data center regulations.
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA)
Coalition for Responsible Data Center Planning

STAMP Data Center
STREAM Data Centers proposed a $6.3B, 2.2 million sq ft data center complex at the WNY STAMP site in Alabama, NY — adjacent to Tonawanda Seneca Nation treaty-protected territory and complex wetlands with old-growth forest. The Tonawanda Seneca Nation and Sierra Club filed litigation citing environmental and treaty concerns. GCEDC construction caused 500-700 gallon hydraulic drilling fluid spills into Refuge wetlands. In late 2025, the Genesee County Economic Development Center rescinded its approvals, and opponents declared victory. Up to $801M in tax subsidies had been proposed. The project involves 500 MW capacity, 60 acres.
Western New York Environmental Alliance (ReThink STAMP)

Hitchcock County passed a one-year moratorium on data center and cryptocurrency mining development via resolution in February 2025, responding to crypto companies seeking cheap power and land in rural Nebraska. The moratorium was later replaced by permanent regulations. At the state level, Gov. Pillen signed LB526 imposing a 2.5 cent/kWh excise tax on crypto mining energy use and allowing utilities to limit consumption during peak demand.

Reno Planning Commission voted 4-2 in February 2025 to recommend a temporary moratorium on new data center permits, citing concerns about energy use, water consumption, and the city's lack of data center policies. The City Council rejected the moratorium despite overwhelming public support at meetings and online. The council subsequently approved additional data center projects over continued public outcry, and later moved to develop regulations after the fact rather than pausing approvals. The project involves the Tract proposal, 810 MW capacity, 686 acres.

Ada County proactively developed data center zoning standards following Meta's data center in nearby Kuna and Diode Ventures' 620-acre Gemstone Technology Park (approved 3-2 by Kuna City Council in April 2025). Ada County updated its zoning ordinance in November 2025 to include data center-specific regulations protecting neighboring property owners and the environment. Meanwhile, rPlus Energies secured $650M to build a massive solar farm powering Meta's data center operations, and a 520 MWdc Blacks Creek Energy Center was financed in Ada County.

Oppidan/Connect Data Centers' Apple Valley Technology Park proposal (seven buildings on former sand/gravel mining site, five as data centers) faced community opposition over water and infrastructure concerns. The Planning Commission tabled the application on February 5, 2025 due to site issues. On March 18, 2026, the Planning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend denial, with Chair Jodi Kurtz stating 'I don't see how we can support something that we don't have the water for.' The project ran counter to the city's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The project involves 134 acres.
Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development

Clayton County Board of Supervisors approved a temporary moratorium on rezoning requests and conditional use permits for digital asset mining/data centers in February 2025. The moratorium was originally set to expire December 31, 2025, but supervisors extended it to December 31, 2026 to allow more time for research and policy development. County officials and the Planning and Zoning Board are studying potential concerns including noise, visual impact, water use, and effects on surrounding properties.

Innovation Gateway
BlackChamber Group / Fairfield Residential (Innovation Gateway project)
On March 18, 2025, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors eliminated by-right data center development county-wide, requiring a special exception with legislative review and public hearings. Phase 1 standards were approved September 16, 2025 to address compatibility issues. Phase 2 of Loudoun County's data center standards is entering its communication and engagement phase (April-June 2026), developing new use-specific zoning standards for data centers and utility substations, addressing microgrids, backup generators, and onsite power generation. A draft will be presented to the Board in May 2026, public comment in July, with potential adoption targeted for December 2026.

Sentinel Data Centers/WRV proposed a 341,273 sq ft data center on 143 acres of the former Princeton Nurseries site — once the largest commercial nursery in the US, vacant since 1995 — along Route 1 in the Princeton Nurseries Redevelopment Area. Residents raised concerns about electricity consumption, cooling noise, property values, and few permanent jobs. The Sierra Club passed a resolution voicing concerns about the project. Construction is reportedly underway targeting completion by end of 2026.

Kootenai County lifted its 182-day moratorium on data center building permits after adopting permanent regulations that ban data centers from being located over the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer and require developers to apply for conditional use permits with public comment opportunities. The moratorium-to-regulation pipeline is being cited as a model by other communities.

Grant County PUD placed load caps on data centers in Quincy's industrial zone in March 2025 to give the utility time to add transmission capacity. Data center capacity surged past 400 MW in 2025 (up from 246.4 MW in 2024) with all nine existing customers signaling intense growth. The PUD anticipates caps being hit by Q3-Q4 2025. A 31-mile transmission line from Wanapum Dam to Quincy is estimated at $86M (more than double the original $40M estimate). A new rate structure ending cheap hydro power takes effect April 2026. The project involves the Microsoft proposal, 800 MW capacity.

Nassau County towns imposed moratoriums on battery energy storage systems (BESS). Jupiter Power (owned by BlackRock) cancelled its contract for the proposed 275 MW Oyster Shore Energy Storage facility in Glenwood Landing in May 2025. Town of Oyster Bay's moratorium continues with extensions; North Hempstead's moratorium extends to November 2026. All three towns (Hempstead, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay) block residential and commercial battery systems alongside utility-scale projects. A vote on Oyster Bay's extension was expected at the town board meeting April 14, 2026.

Conway City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with Forgelight Ventures in April 2025 for a $1B, 300,000 sq ft data center along the Arkansas River on Lollie Road. The secret data center owner (likely Google, based on Forgelight manager Michael Montfort's connection to a similar Indiana project) was not publicly identified. Residents voiced opposition citing noise concerns and lack of transparency. The project would generate only 50 jobs. Planning commissioners expressed concerns about secrecy from the developers. The project involves 100 MW capacity, 493 acres.

North Carolina HB 1002, the 'Rate Payer Protection Act' (Rep. Pricey Harrison D-Guilford), would prohibit utilities from charging residential ratepayers for the electricity costs of large commercial data centers (≥100 MW) and require those costs to be paid directly by data centers through separate rates. The bill also proposes a Special Commission for Data Center Planning to study grid capacity and forecast future needs. As of early 2026, there is little sign HB 1002 will advance. Meanwhile, NC Energy Policy Task Force found data centers account for ~80% of Duke Energy's projected demand growth. NC communities (Apex, Chatham, Gates, Canton) have enacted local moratoria as the legislature stalls. The NC Data Center Convening in Greensboro brought together 60+ advocacy groups in early 2026.

WV House Bill 2014 (2025) created a certified microgrid program and set policies for data centers, stripping local government jurisdiction over 'high-impact' data centers (90+ MW) and diverting property tax revenue. In 2026, bills to restore local control (HB 5590, HB 5620) and require water usage disclosure were introduced but blocked. HB 4983 passed 78-16, bundling rulemaking to limit transparency. On April 1, 2026, West Virginia Watch published a call for a state moratorium, noting HB 2014 bans local governments from enforcing noise, pollution, zoning, lighting, viewshed, or land use rules against certified data center projects. Sen. Joey Garcia's bill to restore local control has not received a hearing. WV MetroNews published an April 7 analysis of the 'data center development dilemma.'

Provident Realty Advisors — after being rejected in Chesterton — proposed a seven-building, 102-acre data center campus at the corner of S. Babcock and Haglund Roads on the Worthington Steel property. Residents packed multiple plan commission meetings to challenge the project, citing concerns about building heights (120 feet), inadequate setbacks (50 feet), noise, and impacts on Indiana Dunes National Park. By February 2025, Provident announced it would revise its proposal, but as of May 2025, the company had not filed a rezoning application and the project appeared to have stalled. The data center wave in Indiana communities has slowed significantly due to community pushback.

StoneGate proposed converting 1,767 acres in Reno's Cold Springs area approved for ~5,000 homes into industrial/data center use, reducing housing to ~1,350 units. The Planning Commission rejected the rezoning, but the City Council approved it 4-3. The Regional Planning Commission then denied it, but the Governing Board reversed that decision. The Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter led opposition. NBC News covered water concerns. The project involves 1,767 acres.

Amazon planned a multibillion-dollar data center near the Xcel Sherco coal-fired power plant in Becker, proposing 250 diesel backup generators. In March 2025, the Minnesota PUC ruled Amazon must obtain a Certificate of Need, placing the burden on Amazon to demonstrate necessity and evaluate sustainable alternatives. Environmental advocate Sarah Mooradian of CURE MN argued that even generators not connected to the grid have huge impacts. In May 2025, Amazon abandoned the project, citing uncertain development timelines for permitting. Minnesota also eliminated a sales tax exemption on data center electricity. The project involves 600 MW capacity, $1B investment, 348 acres.

The Henrico County Board of Supervisors adopted the Data Center Comprehensive Plan Amendment on June 10, 2025, incorporated into the Vision 2026 Comprehensive Plan. As of January 2025, all data center construction requires a provisional use permit (PUP). A 3,000-acre White Oak Technology Park area remains the only zone where data centers can proceed without PUP or public hearing. The restrictions were driven by residents' concerns about unchecked energy use, noise, aesthetics, and proliferation of data centers. Henrico hosts ~40 data centers including Meta, QTS, and Bank of America facilities. The project involves the Centra Logistics proposal, 200 acres.

Hancock County MegaSite
Surge Development withdrew its application to rezone 775 acres of farmland in Buck Creek Township for the 'Hancock County MegaSite' data center near Tuttle Orchards, a century-old farm east of Indianapolis Regional Airport. Over 70 people signed up to speak at a packed May 8 public hearing at Greenfield-Central High School. Surge called the community discussion 'constructive and valuable' and said it would 'pause and formally withdraw' to let the community evaluate individual projects on their merits.

Eagle Mountain has approved multiple data centers including Google, QTS, and Meta campuses. Meta's 4.5M sq ft campus withdrew 35M+ gallons of water in 2024 under a 2018 confidentiality agreement preventing disclosure. Tract has acquired 668+ acres in Eagle Mountain and is working with Rocky Mountain Power to deliver 400+ MW via new transmission infrastructure by 2028. Tract plans a 400MW data center park; QTS Eagle Mountain II is also moving forward. The land sits within the Regional Technology Innovation (RTI) Overlay, allowing by-right use for data centers with expedited administrative review processes — limiting opportunities for community input. Meta's Eagle Mountain expansion adds approximately 2 million square feet.

Project Boar
AVAIO Digital's 'Project Leo' — a $6B, 760-acre hyperscale data center campus near Little Rock — has broken ground with a fully approved Site Plan. The first phase (150 MW) is expected to be complete and energized by June 2027, with power demand anticipated to reach 1 GW at full build-out. The site, less than 10 miles from downtown, has existing water, sewer, and fiber infrastructure. Construction of the first phase was expected to start Q1 2026. The project involves the AVAIO Digital Partners proposal, $1B investment.

Cielo Digital Campus
Cielo Digital Infrastructure's $2.1B data center was approved by Cherokee County Council. The development at Ford Road in Gaffney will include four 400,000 sq ft facilities with an associated electrical substation, totaling up to 300 MW at full build-out. The project is expected to create only 30 jobs. Initial operations are projected to come online by year-end 2028. Tax incentives were offered to the developer. The project involves 86 acres.

Hydro Park Data Center / AI Supercomputer
University of Michigan / Los Alamos National Laboratory / DTE Energy
University of Michigan's $1.25B supercomputing facility for Los Alamos National Laboratory on 124 acres in Ypsilanti Township faces strong opposition. On March 31, 2026, the Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2026-05 opposing construction anywhere in the township. This followed U of M's purchase of a 124-acre parcel on Textile Road. Community concerns center on environmental impact, national security risks, and lack of transparency. U of M says the resolution doesn't change its timeline or plans.

P-35 Data Center
Oakland University's Board of Trustees approved initial stages for a data center on Parking Lot P-35 in June 2025, adjacent to a DTE Energy substation with 26 MW capacity. A petition from students, faculty, staff, and community members formally opposes the project, citing negative impacts on sustainability, the campus Native American Heritage Site, and the biological preserve. In December 2025, state legislation was introduced to rescind a $100M grant from Michigan Strategic Fund for the project. Opposition continues but the university has issued an RFP seeking private-sector data center partners.

Clark Township enacted a 1-year moratorium on data center development in June 2025, making it one of the earliest communities in Michigan to take preemptive action, months before the broader wave that grew to at least 27 communities. The statewide backlash culminated in bipartisan House Bills 5594-5596 proposing a construction halt through April 2027.
Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan

Commercial Point / Scioto Township (Pickaway County)
Scioto Township enacted a 12-month moratorium on data center developments in 2025. K-NOVA LLC's proposal for the Rickenbacker Exchange development in Commercial Point stalled when a related ordinance 'died due to a lack of motion' in the Village Council. K-NOVA's attorney presented a proposal to drill test wells for a water wellfield in October 2025, and a separate Major Site Plan was approved for a lot in Rickenbacker Exchange. The moratorium provides time to assess impacts while some site planning continues. The project involves 450 MW capacity, 152 acres.

Project Lincoln
La Grange passed a 150-day moratorium on data centers and private utilities on June 2, 2025, later extended by another 150 days. Response to "Project Lincoln," a proposed $6 billion hyperscale data center campus by Western Hospitality Partners on 267 acres of farmland. Massive community backlash led WHP to relocate and downsize. A deputy judge/executive was fired amid corruption allegations related to the deal. The project involves 600 MW capacity.

Delta Gigasite
Millard County Commission unanimously approved Creekstone Energy's rezoning of ~1,200 acres from agricultural to heavy industrial on June 3, 2025, despite public opposition at the hearing. In March 2026, Creekstone secured a 13,000-acre solar lease and Millard County zoning approval for over 1 GW of solar development to power its Delta Gigasite data center campus. Combined with Joule Capital Partners' approved campus nearby, the two facilities will consume ~8 square miles of rural land. The project involves 10 GW capacity, 1,100 acres.

Hilcorp, one of Alaska's biggest oil producers, is working with Texas-based TA Infrastructure to place a small pilot data center at its Endicott field on the North Slope. TA Infrastructure says it will use the computers in the shipping container for Bitcoin mining, with power from gas using Hilcorp's existing generators. The pilot aims to demonstrate the ability to operate in the unique North Slope environment and identify logistical/operational challenges for larger projects. Far North Digital LLC operates a 120 MW data center at Prudhoe Bay (planned, certified Tier 3-4). Gov. Dunleavy has been wooing data centers to increase energy demand to justify the proposed Alaska LNG pipeline. Alaska HB 259 (Mears) would impose 'no harm' style requirements on large new loads.

BrightRidge electric utility announced in May 2025 a moratorium on data center project proposals in its service area, including a south Johnson City Bitcoin mining/data center site, stating 'the costs currently outweigh the benefits.' The Johnson City Commission subsequently passed a one-year moratorium on new data centers and paused new land use applications and building permits in the I-2 industrial district for 12 months. The city is conducting studies on health and environmental effects that could lead to stronger zoning ordinances.

POWER Act (HB 3546)
Oregon Legislature adopted the POWER Act (HB 3546) requiring Oregon PUC to create a new industrial customer class for users over 20 MW. CUB accused PGE of circumventing the law — PGE built $174M in substations for data centers but proposed assigning 47% of costs to residential ratepayers. Data centers are 6% of Oregon consumption, projected 20% by 2030. Oregon subsidizes data centers ~$450M/year in property tax breaks. The project involves the Portland General Electric proposal.

Minnesota's HF 16 established comprehensive data center regulation. The law defines 'qualified large-scale data centers' (25,000+ sq ft, $250M+ investment), eliminates the electricity sales tax exemption, extends the IT equipment exemption from 20 to 35 years, imposes $2M-$5M annual fees based on peak electrical demand, and requires prevailing wages. Passed House 85-43, Senate 40-26.

Chesapeake City Council unanimously rejected a proposal to rezone 22.6 acres of agricultural land for a 350,000 sq ft data center. The Planning Commission had voted 6-1 against it. Over 650 emails and a 450-signature petition objected to the project. The council chamber erupted in a standing ovation after the unanimous rejection. The project involves the Doug Fuller proposal.
Residents Against the Etheridge Lakes Data Center

Texas SB 6, signed by Governor Abbott on June 20, 2025, imposes major data center regulations: facilities with 75+ MW must shoulder grid connection costs, maintain remote disconnect capability, disclose on-site backup generation capable of meeting 50% of site demand to ERCOT, and demonstrate financial commitment. The PUCT is implementing the law through multiple rulemaking dockets throughout 2026.

Clarke County Board of Supervisors approved a temporary moratorium on data center construction in unincorporated areas in June 2025, prompted by Applied Digital's interest in a 200 MW, $1.5B facility in the region. Supervisor Randy Dunbar cited the absence of county zoning ordinances pertaining to data centers as the reason, saying the county needed to act before data centers appeared without oversight. The moratorium follows similar actions for commercial wind farms (since June 2023) and solar farms (since December 2024).

Warrenton Town Council voted unanimously (6-0) on July 8, 2025 to amend the zoning ordinance, striking all references to data centers from Articles 3, 9 and 12, effectively banning new data centers in town. The Planning Commission had recommended the change 4-1 in May 2025. Over 2,300 citizens wrote or spoke in opposition to data centers. The change does not affect the special use permit granted in February 2023 for an Amazon data center on Blackwell Road.

Google Data Center Monrovia
Google's data center in Monrovia was approved by Morgan County Commissioners despite fierce community opposition. Rezoning of farmland to planned unit development was approved in February 2025, with an additional 158 acres approved in October, bringing Google's total to 500+ acres. Two lawsuits were filed by residents (March and November 2025) alleging the rezoning was arbitrary and disregarded the county's comprehensive plan. Residents protested in July 2025, citing water table and energy cost concerns. The lawsuits remain pending. The project involves 1200 MW capacity, $1B investment, 550 acres.

Champion Farm Data Center Campus
Province Group formally withdrew its zoning application for a data center campus in Perry Township/Perry Village as of July 2025. The developer had signed an agreement to purchase 163 acres from the village for $8.4M and planned a seven-building campus. Perry Village had approved Ordinance 2025-2 to add data centers to the zoning code, but community opposition led the village council to consider repealing it. A town hall meeting was held July 24 to address residents' concerns. The project involves 215 acres.
Stop the Data Center Construction in Perry Township

Project Lincoln: OC Data Center
Western Hospitality Partners proposed 'Project Lincoln: OC Data Center,' a $6B, 600MW facility initially planned for 267 acres at 3557 North Highway 53. Due to fierce opposition from 'We Are Oldham County,' the company tried switching to a smaller 30-acre drive-in movie theater site. Oldham County passed a 150-day moratorium 4-2, and Western Hospitality Partners subsequently withdrew its application entirely.

AWS Data Center at 8050 Camino Arroyo
Amazon Web Services received approval on July 3, 2025 for a 218,000 sq ft, 49 MW data center requiring 25 emergency generators on a 56-acre site in Gilroy, California. Two Change.org petitions were created — one to stop the project and another to ban/regulate data centers in Gilroy. The mayor said the city cannot legally stop the project. Construction is moving forward despite community opposition.

CyrusOne Mesa Data Center
Mesa City Council adopted new zoning rules on July 8, 2025, restricting data centers to General Industrial and Heavy Industrial zones (roughly 4.1% of city land) and requiring special use permits with City Council approval, design guideline compliance, and environmental studies. Fifteen data centers had been constructed, approved, or proposed in Mesa within six years prior. Existing proposals are grandfathered in, but all new projects must be sited in the designated industrial areas. The project involves the CyrusOne proposal, 62 acres.
Arizona Chapter of 7x24 Exchange (industry opposition to restrictions)

S4293/A5548 Transparency Bill
New Jersey has introduced multiple data center bills. S4318 (Sen. Burzichelli, Sen. Greenstein) requires the BPU to study data center effects on electricity costs and was signed into law by Gov. Murphy. S4293 (Sen. Ruiz, Sen. Burgess) requires data centers to report water and energy usage to the BPU; conditionally vetoed by Gov. Murphy in October 2025. A5462/S4307 (Asm. Dave Bailey Jr.) would require electric utilities to develop special tariff rules for data centers using 100+ MW monthly to protect non-data-center customers from cost increases; pocket-vetoed by Gov. Murphy as one of his last acts and refiled in the 2026 session. In February 2026, committees in both chambers approved a bill requiring large power users (100+ MW/month) to pay at least 85% of their service costs.
New Jersey League of Conservation Voters
New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) (opposed)
New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA)

Big Sky Digital Infrastructure
Quantica Infrastructure plans a 5,000-acre 'Big Sky Digital Infrastructure' AI campus near Broadview (pop. ~130) requiring up to 1 GW — more than NorthWestern Energy's entire residential customer base. Local resident Cari Olson has been rallying opposition statewide. Concerns include water, noise, and tax incentives. The project remains in early stages with no formal approvals as of early 2026. The project involves 5,000 acres.

Project Cumulus
After CRG withdrew its data center proposal from St. Charles, the Festus City Council unanimously annexed 240 acres for data center development. At least two residents filed lawsuits; Wake Up Jeffco organized opposition. A door-to-door petition gathered 1,400 registered voter signatures calling for a public vote on whether to allow the data center. In February 2026, Festus City Council voted 7-0 to hire MarksNelson to negotiate terms with developer CRG. The council unanimously approved annexation of 240 acres near US Route 67 and approved rezoning. No site plan has been submitted yet and no end user identified. Two residents have filed lawsuits and the grassroots group Wake Up Jeffco is criticizing government secrecy. The city administrator said a data center operator could be identified by CRG in the first half of 2026. The project involves $1B investment.
St. Charles Residents Against Project Cumulus

Thor Equities proposed a $1 billion data center on 810 acres (building on about 20%) near Milan. Despite the Planning Commission recommending denial, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved rezoning of 522 acres in July 2025. PACT (Protect Augusta Charter Township) gathered 957 signatures in two weeks (needed 561) to force a public referendum. The special election is expected May 2026 at earliest. PACT is confident residents will vote the project down. Opponents fear noise, light pollution, destruction of rural character, higher utility bills, and brownouts. Thor committed to abiding by the township's noise ordinance. The project involves 100 MW capacity.

Oppidan halted its data center project citing lengthy permitting for diesel generators. MCEA (Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy) sued the city in August 2025, alleging officials hid information and approved a faulty AUAR (Alternative Urban Areawide Review) environmental study. MCEA argues the review failed to adequately analyze water withdrawals from the Mount Simon-Hinckley Aquifer that supplies drinking water to ~1 million Minnesotans. The proposed development could consume 500,000 to 30 million gallons of water/day. Even though Oppidan backed away, the lawsuit remains necessary because the approved AUAR could allow future data center proposals. Briefing expected April 2026. The project involves 500 MW capacity.

New Hill Digital Campus
Natelli Investments LLC withdrew its annexation and rezoning applications for the New Hill Digital Campus on March 5, 2026 — a 190-acre, 250-300 MW data center on Shearon Harris Road near Apex, NC. The withdrawal cited the Town's ongoing deliberations over zoning changes needed to permit data centers. Mayor Pro Tem Terry Mahaffey then proposed a one-year moratorium on new data centers, which the Apex Town Council unanimously voted to advance on March 10, 2026. A public hearing on the moratorium is set for April 14, 2026. Mayor Jacques Gilbert proposed forming a non-standing committee to research data center impacts. Project would have included four 70-foot-tall buildings. Natelli indicated the project could be revisited if zoning is later amended.

Project Marvel
Logistics Land Investment proposed Project Marvel, a $14.5B, 4.5 million sq ft, 1,200 MW data center requiring clearing 700 acres of forest in Bessemer — a city that is approximately 70% Black with a legacy of pollution from steel mills, coal plants, and coke ovens. The NAACP (Alabama State Conference, Metro Birmingham Branch, and Center for Environmental and Climate Justice) formally objected to the project, demanding transparency, disclosure of NDAs, expected employment and tax impacts, energy/water usage details, and guarantees against utility cost increases. Despite 7,000+ petition signatures, Bessemer changed its laws to accommodate data centers in October 2025, approving the project. The project involves 1200 MW capacity, $14B investment, 1,600 acres.
NAACP Center for Environmental and Climate Justice

Roxbury Technology Park
Kansas-based Diode Ventures withdrew its $1B rezoning application for the 515-acre Roxbury Technology Park in Charles City County on August 18, 2025, after 8 months of resident organizing. The Planning Commission had backed the project in May, but a June Board of Supervisors meeting drew more than two and a half hours of public opposition citing environmental impacts, noise and light pollution, and lack of an identified end user. The company said it would shift focus elsewhere, citing challenges with power availability and municipal support.

Ellendale AI Data Center
Applied Digital's $7B Polaris Forge 1 campus in Ellendale hosts a 250 MW data center leased to CoreWeave for 15 years. Construction is underway despite community resistance. At a packed city meeting, residents wearing 'No Eminent Domain' t-shirts and carrying 'My Land, My Choice' signs confronted elected officials about lack of representation. The facility requested annexation into the city of Ellendale in late 2024. North Dakota lawmakers are now considering legislation to address rifts between infrastructure developers and landowners. The project continues despite ongoing opposition. The project involves 900 acres.

Supercomputer facility
Elon Musk's xAI built 'Colossus,' the world's largest AI supercomputer, in Boxtown — a 90% Black neighborhood in southwest Memphis. Originally operated 35 methane-powered gas turbines without Clean Air Act permits; xAI removed 20 and obtained permits for the remaining 15. SELC and Earthjustice, on behalf of the NAACP, sent a notice of intent to sue xAI in February 2026 over 27 unpermitted methane gas turbines at the Colossus 2 site (just across the state line in Mississippi), which could make it the largest industrial NOx source in the 11-county Memphis metro. In January 2026, the EPA revised its New Source Performance Standard requiring permits for large gas turbines even for temporary operations, complicating xAI's expansion. In March 2026, xAI filed a request for a new construction permit for a 312,000 sq ft building at 5414 Tulane Road on a 79-acre parcel adjacent to Colossus 2, with a $659 million budget. Mississippi DEQ held a February 2026 hearing on the Colossus 2 expansion under threat of environmental lawsuit. Opposition coalition includes Memphis Community Against Pollution, Protect Our Aquifer, Young Gifted & Green, and the NAACP.

SAT 93 & SAT 94
Microsoft filed plans for two data centers ($350M each) near Castroville while Rowan Digital Infrastructure's Project Cinco is developing a separate $900M hyperscale campus on 440 acres with 300 MW capacity in Medina County, Texas. The county is in an 'exceptional drought' and the projects would draw water from the Edwards Aquifer. Rowan announced investment in an Edwards Aquifer Authority conservation program to achieve 250% offset of water usage. Eight data centers total are planned for the county. San Antonio-area data centers already consumed 463 million gallons of water in 2023-2024 while residents face Stage 3 watering restrictions. The projects are moving forward despite drought concerns. The project involves $700M investment.

Mooresville data center
Denver-based Tract proposed the $30B Mooresville Technology Park on 400 acres of undeveloped land owned by Teresa Earnhardt, widow of NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt. The project drew intense community backlash. Dale Earnhardt's eldest son Kerry and his wife Rene posted a YouTube video detailing their opposition, saying their father would be 'furious' to see his name associated with the project. About 200 people crowded a Board of Commissioners meeting wearing red T-shirts to signal opposition, with all 10 speakers raising concerns about water use in a drought-prone region and skepticism about job promises. Tract withdrew the rezoning request on August 13, 2025. The project involves 1500 MW capacity.

Stargate
Recall effort against Mayor Ted Neitzke over the $15B Vantage Data Centers 'Project Lighthouse' fell short in February 2026, collecting ~1,200 signatures but needing ~1,600 (25% of 2022 gubernatorial ballots). The group Great Lakes Neighbors United cited transparency, environmental, and TIF concerns. Despite opposition, the data center broke ground and construction is underway. The 1.3 GW facility will serve OpenAI and Oracle. A separate lawsuit by Great Lakes Neighbors United challenges the project.
Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL)

Monarch Data Center
Copia Power Devco LLC (backed by Carlyle) received 4-1 approval from Lyon County commissioners for a Master Plan Amendment to build the Monarch Data Center - 4.6 million sq ft across 14 buildings on 505 acres in Mason Valley, Yerington. The 1,000MW facility would require enough electricity to power roughly 500,000 homes. Multiple Change.org petitions object to the project, citing water scarcity in the drought-prone region, corruption allegations against officials, and impacts on the agricultural community. Commissioner Hockaday cast the lone dissenting vote. The project involves 1 GW capacity, $11B investment.

LEAP District Data Center Campus
Meta officially broke ground on its $10B+, 1500-acre data center campus at the LEAP Innovation and Research District in Lebanon, Indiana on February 11, 2026. The campus will feature 13 buildings (10 data centers plus support facilities), supporting ~300 permanent operational jobs and ~4,000 peak construction jobs. Meta committed $45M in road improvements and $1M/year for 20 years to the Boone County REMC Community Fund. The project uses ~5M gallons/day. Wabash Valley Power Alliance increased transmission spending by 1,300% ($627M) primarily for Meta, with costs likely passed to ratepayers. 200+ people rallied in Feb 2026. Opposition was led by Boone County Preservation Group and Citizens Action Coalition; petition gathered 2,581 signatures. First buildings expected online by end of 2027.

Hyperion
Meta's Hyperion AI data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana — a $27B joint venture with Blue Owl Capital — is undergoing dramatic expansion. In February 2026, Meta quietly purchased an additional 1,400 acres adjacent to the existing 2,250-acre site, expanding to 3,650 acres total. On March 27, 2026, Meta announced an Entergy agreement to build seven new gas-fired power plants on top of three previously approved, totaling 10 gas plants with 7.5 GW of capacity — a >30% increase to Louisiana's entire grid capacity, enough to power 5+ million homes. The project has caused a 600% spike in vehicle crashes and forced Holly Ridge Elementary to shut down its playground due to truck safety. Low-income families are being evicted for Meta worker housing, and at least 5,000 temporary workers are flooding a parish of ~20,000 permanent residents. The facility uses ~23M gallons/day and $550M in transmission costs are being passed to 1.1M Entergy customers. Hyperion is expected operational by 2030.

MCEA sued Lakeville and developer Olam Holdings, alleging the city deliberately concealed that a 1.36M sq ft, 152-acre development is likely a data center, describing it generically as 'light industrial.' The environmental review was accused of being inadequate. The lawsuit is ongoing as of early 2026. The project involves the Olam Holdings 1 LLC proposal.

North Tonawanda Common Council unanimously approved a two-year moratorium on all new crypto mining and data center developments in July 2024, expiring July 2026. The ban covers new operations and prevents Digihost from expanding at the 60MW Fortistar gas plant. In November 2025, the New York Supreme Court ordered the state's Public Service Commission to reassess Digihost's 2021 acquisition of the gas plant. Digihost is also expanding to Alabama. As of early 2026, the moratorium remains in effect and there is no indication it will be lifted before expiration.
North Tonawanda residents (Deborah Gondek, organizer)

Greensparc (CA-based) is pursuing a small-scale modular data center project at the former 6-Mile mill site in Wrangell, AK. The borough assembly unanimously authorized a nonbinding agreement to explore the lease. Wrangell's economic development board voted 5-0 on Jan 5, 2026 to recommend the assembly move forward with a 1-2 acre lease. Greensparc plans 3.5 MW of capacity, potentially reducing local utility rates. Wrangell hosted a town hall with industry partners on Feb 19, 2026. Wrangell's hydroelectric power (Tyee Lake station — to be expanded to ~30 MW after a third turbine planned for 2027) appeals to cloud computing companies marketing low-carbon operations.

Wilsonville Hyperscale Data Center
NorthPoint Development (Kansas City) has been approached the town about a 687-acre, 14-building hyperscale data center with 1,008MW peak power demand and 3.1 million sq ft in Wilsonville, AL — a small riverside community of fewer than 2,000 people about 25 miles southeast of Birmingham. The site is 2.5 miles northwest of the Gaston Steam Plant, alongside Lick Branch off Shelby County Highway 61. More than 100 residents packed the town hall in 2025 to voice opposition. As of early 2026, no formal applications have been filed in Wilsonville or Shelby County. The project remains in early exploratory stages with the Alabama Rivers Alliance and Inside Climate News continuing to spotlight community concerns about water, power, and rural character.
Wilsonville residents (No Wilsonville Data Center)

Polaris Forge 2
Applied Digital's $3B Polaris Forge 2 data center (280MW) near the 900-person town of Harwood is proceeding. Fargo withdrew its annexation attempt, and an agreement was reached where Fargo stops annexation and Harwood ceases plans to annex land to the east, lasting 20 years. Phase 1 expected operational in second half of 2026. The dispute centered on which municipality would capture tax revenue from the massive project.

Gigaland Data Center Campus
GigaLand LLC sought to rezone 202 acres for an 800MW, 2.2M sq ft data center campus with seven 80-foot buildings. The Planning Commission voted 4-1 to recommend denial. Developers withdrew on August 25, 2025, calling it 'a direct result of the strong community opposition.' The project involves 2.2 million square feet of building space. Opposition was led by Piedmont Environmental Council, Protect Fauquier, and Citizens for Fauquier County.

Project Jupiter
Doña Ana County, New Mexico approved a historic Industrial Revenue Bond for Project Jupiter, a $165 BILLION (over 30 years; $50B in first 5 years) AI data center campus by STACK Infrastructure and BorderPlex Digital Assets, with Oracle confirmed as anchor tenant in January 2026 — also tied to OpenAI's Stargate. The project spans 1,400 acres in Santa Teresa, with 4 data center buildings, microgrid facilities, natural gas power plants, battery storage, and a desalination plant. Closed-loop cooling limits water use to ~20,000 gallons/day. Construction has begun on the 3M sq ft facility, with operations expected before end of 2026. Promises 4,000+ construction jobs and 1,500 onsite positions. In a setback, on March 31, 2026, the New Mexico State Land Commissioner REJECTED the application for a gas pipeline to power Project Jupiter — a major obstacle to the project's energy plans.

TA Realty / Digital Realty (recently approved projects)
Clayton County Board of Commissioners approved a moratorium on new data center applications through December 31, 2025, citing resident concerns about rapid data center growth. On December 16, 2025, the Board unanimously voted to extend the moratorium until June 29, 2026. The moratorium applies to new applications for permits, licenses, or rezonings for both new data centers and expansion of existing ones in unincorporated Clayton County.

Troup County enacted a 90-day moratorium on data center applications on September 16, 2025, after Fertile Ground Investments proposed a 600 MW data center on 437 acres near Hogansville. The moratorium was extended twice and is now on its third consecutive 90-day extension through June 14, 2026. The county unveiled a proposed data center zoning ordinance requiring special-use permits, environmental community impact analysis, and decommissioning plans with surety bonds. Commissioners voted April 9, 2026 to continue discussion on the draft ordinance.
Troup County Anti-Data Center Coalition (Gage Bailey, founder)

Brightseat Tech Park
The Qualified Data Center Task Force released a 460+ page report with 14 recommendations. Key proposals include ending 'permitted-by-right' approvals for data centers, requiring special-exception or planned-development processes with community hearings, tightening zoning restrictions, protecting environmentally sensitive areas, and increasing buffer distances from homes.
Brandywine TB Southern Region Neighborhood Coalition

Project Pegasus
LaGrange City Council passed a 180-day moratorium on new data center applications in September 2025 amid community backlash. The moratorium expired in March 2026. On March 27, 2026, the City Council held a public hearing on a proposed data center ordinance. The draft ordinance defines hyperscale data centers as those larger than 30,000 sq ft, permits them only in heavy industrial districts, and requires a 300-foot vegetative buffer. The Troup County Anti-Data Center Coalition says the proposed ordinance lacks adequate protection for citizens and drinking water.

Pike County enacted a 6-month data center moratorium in September 2025 as part of a wave of Georgia county ordinances (alongside Lamar, Troup, and Clayton counties), prompted by Amazon/AWS interest. Commissioner James Jenkins said 'people just don't understand (data centers), yet.' County ordinance adoption is expected as moratoria expire. Notably, in April 2026, Georgia lawmakers ended the legislative session without passing any of the bipartisan data center bills introduced — including HB 1012 which would have placed a statewide moratorium until February 2027. The Pike County moratorium remains in effect while regulations are drafted.

Lamar County enacted a 6-month moratorium on data center development in September 2025 after AWS purchased 985 acres for $270 million — the largest real estate transaction in county history. The county's planning and zoning director said the moratorium was triggered because industrial/commercial zoning needed updating; the code didn't even include the term 'data center,' and zoning hadn't been updated since 2010. As of April 2026, Georgia statewide legislation has stalled (no bills passed), leaving counties as the front line of regulation. Lamar County is one of four GA counties (Pike, Lamar, Troup, Clayton) using moratoria to develop ordinances.

Compass Data Centers proposed a $1B+ campus on 333 acres of farmland on Stamey Farm Road in western Iredell County. Plans include five buildings of approximately 270,000 sq ft each (1.35M total) with 40 backup generators per building. A Facebook group with 900+ members organized opposition citing air and groundwater pollution and property value impacts. Despite opposition, the Statesville City Council unanimously approved the project in September 2025. The project involves 500 MW capacity.
Statesville area residents (Facebook group, 900+ members)

Hampden Township Commissioners unanimously rejected a proposed zoning ordinance amendment that would have designated office-park zones for data centers. Some 300 residents signed a petition, and commissioners heard more than two hours of public comment from dozens of people, most voicing concerns about the change. Food & Water Watch's eastern Pennsylvania organizer Virginia Marcille-Kerslake mobilized opposition through a door-to-door campaign with flyers and QR codes. Residents raised concerns about air, light, and noise impacts. The rejection was part of a broader wave of Pennsylvania communities proactively restricting data centers.
Coalition to Protect Cumberland County PA

Armory Data Center
Contour / TeraWatt / THO Investments (Armory Innovation District consortium)
A $3B data center proposed at the historic Armory building in St. Louis Midtown by a consortium (Contour/TeraWatt/THO Investments) faces significant opposition. Mayor Cara Spencer requested the Board of Public Service postpone its vote on March 31, 2026 to give the city time to develop new data center zoning rules. The board voted to delay the permit decision by 30 days. A petition with 13,000+ signatures had called for a year-long moratorium. Over 200 residents attended an earlier town hall to oppose data centers.
Eco-Socialist Green Party of Eastern Missouri
Democratic Socialists of America St. Louis
Party for Socialism and Liberation St. Louis

Former Power Station Data Center
NorthPoint Development proposed a data center at a former power station site on approximately 1,400 acres in Carbon County's Packer and Banks townships. The project has been delayed by officials. Opposition groups Save Carbon County and Greenfire Coalition have spoken out, with two petitions gathering over 1,000 signatures total. Concerns focus on loss of green spaces and community impacts. The project involves 1,400 acres.

Griffin City Council unanimously passed a 180-day moratorium on data centers and other technological facilities, prompted in part by interest from Hillwood and other developers. The moratorium was enacted so city planning staff can study current codes and ordinances for potential data center regulations. Officials noted the Unified Development Code currently does not specifically allow 'Technological Facilities' within the city, either by right or special use permit.

Taurus
AVAIO Digital broke ground on the $6B, 329-acre Taurus Data Center Hub in Brandon (Rankin County), MS in September 2025 — Mississippi's third-largest economic development project in state history. First occupancy on track for August 2027, with nearly 450 MW of capacity online by 2027. Total power path: >1 GW baseload via an Energy Service Agreement with Entergy Mississippi (initial 116 MW June 2027, +420 MW grid power by end-2030) plus Gulf South Pipeline gas access starting Q2 2027 enabling +500 MW behind-the-meter thermal generation. Will provide 60+ direct high-tech jobs, hundreds of indirect jobs. Greater Jackson area. Residents continue raising questions about water and energy.
Rankin County Residents Against Data Center (ad hoc)

Adams Fork Energy
TransGas Development Systems' Adams Fork Energy project includes two off-grid natural gas power plants (one at the former Twisted Gun Golf Course in Wharncliffe, the other at Harless Industrial Park near the Mingo-Logan county line) tied to the world's largest proposed ammonia plant. Each plant would operate 117 gas engines generating >2,400 MW combined — making them the third- and fourth-largest energy facilities in West Virginia. Each could emit hundreds of tons of NOx, VOCs, CO, and particulate matter annually. WV DEP issued air quality permits in October 2025 despite public pushback. In December 2025, ten Mingo County residents filed a federal lawsuit alleging Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and NEPA violations; a judge denied their request for a preliminary injunction. Logan and Mingo residents continue raising concerns about air, water, and health impacts. Facilities expected operational late 2026 or early 2027.

Jerome Township trustees unanimously approved a 9-month moratorium after residents complained of persistent noise from existing Amazon/AWS data centers. Up to four new projects were paused. Trustees plan to reclassify data centers from 'permitted' to 'conditional' use. Amazon cited multi-million-dollar investments in noise reduction engineering. The project involves $200M investment, 111 acres.

Nashville I
RadiusDC broke ground on a 12 MW, 100,000 sq ft data center on 12 acres off Brick Church Pike in the Trinity Hills neighborhood of North Nashville, across from an elementary school. Residents raised environmental justice concerns about siting in a predominantly Black neighborhood. The complex houses 27 backup diesel generators and 16 cooling towers. Construction is proceeding despite community opposition. The project involves $5M investment.

Poe Companies / PowerHouse Data Centers (approved project)
One 525MW data center project in southwest Louisville has been cleared to proceed, built by Poe Companies and PowerHouse Data Centers (starting at 100MW, expanding to 400MW). District 17 Council Member Markus Winkler proposed a six-month moratorium on September 11, 2025, which was tabled indefinitely. A survey showed 81.5% of respondents chose 'Nowhere in Jefferson County' for data center locations. City planners continue drafting regulations. The project involves $11.1B investment, 154 acres.

Developers proposed a data center campus offering up to 1.5GW of capacity on 209 acres in Blakely Borough — requiring power equivalent to the entire output of the nearby Lackawanna Energy Center gas-fired power plant. The first phase called for four two-story buildings at 150,000 sq ft per floor. About 100 residents packed the Borough Building with 60 more outside and 210+ watching via Zoom for an August 13, 2025 Q&A session. A grassroots petition gathered roughly 800 signatures voicing concerns about the project. The developers withdrew their zoning application on September 12, 2025, days before a scheduled public hearing. The borough subsequently adopted an ordinance applying nearly three dozen restrictions on future data center developments. The project involves the Kriger proposal.
Blakely No Data Center Campaign (Bob Cicci & Katie Klein-Cicci, organizers)

College Station residents mounted strong opposition to Priority Power's proposed 600MW datacenter on 200 acres of Midtown Drive. More than 75 individuals registered to speak in person and a petition with over 5,000 signatures was submitted. Concerns included noise pollution, procedural issues, environmental impacts, and utility demands. The city rejected the land sale and is now proactively considering guardrails for future datacenter proposals. The project involves $1B investment.
College Station Residents Against Data Center

The Tarboro Town Council rejected a Special Use Permit for Energy Storage Solutions' proposed 300MW, eight-phase data center on a 52-acre site near Anaconda and McNair roads by a 7-1 vote. The developer filed an appeal to Edgecombe Superior Court in November 2025, alleging the town committed 'errors of law.' A separate project proposed for the Kingsboro Business Park continues. Edgecombe County commissioners also voted down another ESS project. Residents cited concerns about traffic, water use, 24/7 noise, and proximity to the animal shelter. The project involves $6.4B investment.
Edgecombe Neighbors for Data Center Accountability

Social Circle approved a 90-day moratorium on new data center applications after being overwhelmed with seven applications. Despite the moratorium, the council approved a controversial rezoning for 151 acres, drawing resident opposition. Part of a statewide wave of Georgia moratoriums. Opposition was led by One Circle Community Coalition. The community achieved a partial victory in its effort.

Project Flo
Google withdrew its 468-acre 'Project Flo' data center in Franklin Township, Indianapolis on September 22, 2025, hours before the City-County Council was expected to vote it down. The 'Protect Franklin Township' campaign gathered over 8,000 petition signatures and invested in digital billboard ads across Marion County. Fifteen of 25 council members announced opposition, citing massive water and electricity consumption for just a handful of permanent jobs. About 60 protestors gathered outside the September 8 council meeting, and loud cheers erupted at news of the withdrawal.

City of South Fulton approved a data center ordinance in June 2025 with criteria for noise levels and residential distance. In August 2025, the council approved T5 Data Centers' ATL IV campus: a 91-acre, three-building, 1.32M sq ft facility supporting 200 MW of IT load. T5 finalized land acquisition August 28, 2024. An on-site substation will be operational by 2026, with Phase 1 delivery by 2027. The city estimates $7-10M annually in revenue for parks, public services, and community programs. Predominantly Black communities in South Fulton and Union City continue to effort against at least 20 planned data centers in the area.

Menomonie Data Center
Menomonie signed an NDA with Balloonist LLC in February 2024, over a year before announcing the $1.6B data center proposal in July 2025. Over the following six months, residents coordinated a local opposition campaign. Mayor Randy Knaack announced on Sept. 22 that the city was no longer interested in pursuing the project. On January 5, 2026, the City Council revised a zoning ordinance to bar Balloonist from moving ahead. The data center would have used approximately 75,000 gallons of water per day and brought 50-75 full-time jobs. The project involves 750 MW capacity, 324 acres.

Lansing AI Data Center (former Milliken Station)
FLX Strong and Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now (CLEAN) filed an Article 78 petition on January 29, 2026 in Tompkins County Supreme Court against the Town of Lansing Zoning Board of Appeals, TeraWulf Inc., its subsidiary Lake Hawkeye, property owner Cayuga Operating Company, and applicant Fred DelFavero. The suit challenges the ZBA's narrow 3-2 vote on December 22, 2025 that classified TeraWulf's proposed 400MW data center at the former Milliken Station coal plant as a 'general processing facility' permitted in the industrial zone. The groups allege ZBA 'effectively rewritten the Town Code under the guise of interpretation' and cite 'bias, legal defects, and procedural irregularities.' Previously, Lansing's Town Board withdrew a proposed one-year moratorium in November 2025 after TeraWulf threatened legal action over alleged Open Meetings Law violations.
Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now (CLEAN)

Five Taylor residents sued to stop a 135,000 sq ft data center with an on-site electrical substation on land deeded in 1999 as parkland. Judge Ryan Larson initially issued a temporary block but dismissed the case on Oct. 8, 2025, ruling residents lacked standing. Construction is proceeding. The Blueprint Data Centers project involves a 60 MW capacity, $1 billion in investment, 52 acres, 135,000 square feet of building space. The developer promised 30 permanent jobs. Opposition was led by Griffin family plaintiffs, Taylor community residents (led by Carrie D'Anna), and Halt the BPP Project in Taylor.
Taylor community residents (led by Carrie D'Anna)

Mountaineer GigaSystem
Fidelis New Energy proposed the 2,300+ acre Mountaineer GigaSystem (hydrogen + data center) campus in Mason County, WV. In March 2026, California-based Nscale acquired the project (Monarch Compute Campus) by buying American Intelligence and Power Corporation. Nscale immediately signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft to provide 1.35 GW of capacity for an AI data center using NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 GPUs. Once fully built, capacity could reach 1GW (potentially expanding further), with up to $5B invested. WV state law HB 2014 stripped local zoning authority over data centers. Residents continue to raise concerns about water usage, noise, emissions, and lack of community input. First phase expected operational in 2028.

Delaware HB 233 (Rep. Frank Burns / Sen. Stephanie Hansen) requires PSC-regulated utilities like Delmarva Power to establish a separate rate for large energy-use facilities (≥20 MW used primarily for web hosting, streaming, or data processing). HB 233 cleared a House committee in January 2026 and was scheduled for a full House vote in February. Evaluation factors include rate impact on other customers, equitable contributions to grid reliability, ability to meet renewable energy targets, and impact on greenhouse gas reduction. The bill responds to fears that data center proliferation could strain Delaware's grid and raise residential bills. Separately, the controversial Delaware City data center proposal faced a major setback when its environmental approval was denied in February 2026 — the denial was upheld by a state board in March 2026.

Shutesbury Special Town Meeting approved a 9-month moratorium bylaw on data centers on September 30, 2025. Planning Board voted 6-1 to bring it forward after a potential company expressed interest. Shutesbury is among Franklin County, MA towns being evaluated in a data center feasibility study. Massachusetts opposition to data centers has grown statewide in 2026, with Lowell passing a yearlong moratorium and Everett residents pushing for one. However, Gov. Maura Healey has come out in support of data centers (unlike Maine's Mills), creating tension with grassroots opposition. As of early 2026, no formal data center proposal has been filed in Shutesbury.

White County Data Center Rezoning
White County's Board of Commissioners passed a moratorium on data center development on October 20, 2025, after residents packed public meetings in opposition. The moratorium was prompted by a proposed project near Wolcott. Residents voiced concerns about water availability and process transparency. White County joined Marshall (February) and Putnam (November) as Indiana's three counties with data center moratoriums, which conflict with a state government actively courting tech projects through a 2019 law granting sizable tax credits for computer equipment purchases. The project involves 287 acres.

A developer proposed a backup data center at Kuiper Farm (2400 55th Drive) in the Village of Yorkville, about five miles from Microsoft's AI data center under construction in Mount Pleasant. The Yorkville Village Board and Plan Commission held a joint pre-application conference on December 8, 2025 and made clear the village had no interest in hosting a data center. The developer said they would move on if there was no community support. Microsoft stated it was 'not currently evaluating any sites for data center development in Yorkville.' This was Microsoft's second failed attempt at a backup data center in Racine County, after withdrawing a 244-acre proposal in neighboring Caledonia following a 2,000-signature petition. The project involves the Ken Nelson proposal.
Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL)

Crooked Creek Technology Park
EagleRock Partners withdrew its rezoning application for the 600+ acre Crooked Creek Technology Park after organized opposition under the 'No Data Centers in Jones County' campaign. Commissioners voted 4-1 for a 90-day moratorium to study data center impacts and develop regulations. The county later rescinded several data center-related zoning ordinances after determining residents had not been given proper legal notice of the changes, further delaying any future data center development. The project involves $5B investment, 600 acres.

Pine Ridge Technology Park
Twiggs County commissioners unanimously approved Eagle Rock Partners' $2B data center rezoning of ~300 acres (Weyerhaeuser-owned land) on September 18, 2025, despite hundreds of residents' objections. Residents filed a lawsuit in Twiggs County Superior Court alleging procedural violations: the notice sign was placed on the wrong property with an incorrect hearing date, and the commission did not acquire a required impact report before voting. The county's December response denied the allegations. As of February 2026, a judge is reviewing the case and is expected to issue a written decision.
Concerned Citizens of Twiggs County (Rob Fricks, attorney)

Columbia North Industrial Rezoning (potential data center)
A landowner sought to rezone 63 acres of farmland near U.S. 63 for a potential data center. The Planning & Zoning Commission voted 5-2 to recommend the change, but the City Council rejected it 3-3 on Nov. 19, 2025. Residents objected to the loss of farmland and questioned why the project couldn't use already-industrial land. The project involves 200 MW capacity.

Page Data Center
City Council voted 5-2 to sell 500 acres of recreational land to Huntley LLC for a $10B, 1,000 MW data center — less than one mile from Horseshoe Bend. 'Page Residents for Voter Rights' collected 405 signatures to force a referendum, but it was disqualified on a technicality (numbering on pages). A recall effort targeting Mayor Kidman and Councillor Roundtree is ongoing. The project involves 1 GW capacity.

Avemore Data Park
Over 30 Carroll County residents filed a lawsuit in Superior Court challenging Villa Rica's annexation and rezoning of 200+ acres for Embry Development Company's proposed Avemore Data Park. Door-to-door petitions gathered 500 signatures with approximately 95% of respondents voicing concerns about the project. Concerns include 1.1 million gallons/day water use and proximity to residential areas. The lawsuit is ongoing. The project involves $5B investment, 400 acres.

Orangeburg Data Center Expansion
Over 100 residents from New York and New Jersey objected to DataBank's proposal for a 146,000 sq-ft, 45 MW data center adjacent to Lake Tappan reservoir in Orangetown, New York. The Bi-State Datacenter Crisis Coalition organized opposition citing threats to wetlands, wildlife, water quality, and fire risks from lithium-ion battery storage. The project remains under review. The project involves 34 acres.

PRSM Preble County
Preble County Planning Commission unanimously (11-0) denied rezoning of 300 acres of farmland for a data center. The developer withdrew his application in October after residents organized a referendum campaign. Former Republican state lawmaker Gene Krebs helped lead opposition. Opposition was led by Coalition Against Data Centers in South Ohio. The project involves the Patrick Scanlon proposal.
Coalition Against Data Centers in South Ohio

Project Mila
Trenton (Butler County, OH) City Planning Commissioners voted unanimously in late March 2026 to approve Prologis' site plan for Project Mila, an 880,000 sq ft data center development on 141 acres in Trenton Industrial Park. The project includes 4 buildings (each 220,000 sq ft) plus an electrical substation. Projected 140 jobs. Construction on the first building could start later in 2026 for a 2028 launch, with all four buildings complete by 2029. Prologis says it will pay for all required power system upgrades and utility costs. Water/sewer/stormwater fees could bring $120,000/year to the city. Community pushback continues over water usage, energy bills, and noise impacts. Technical components like stormwater management remain under review.
Woodsdale and Trenton Environmental Resistance (W.A.T.E.R.)

Mason County Hyperscale Data Center
Mason County, Kentucky, planning commission approved a zoning ordinance paving the way for a 2,080-acre data center campus north of AA Highway, west of Maysville, by an undisclosed Fortune 100 company under NDA. The 'We Are Mason County' grassroots group filed a lawsuit on March 27, 2026 against the Mason County Fiscal Court and Planning Commission challenging the rezoning of 28 properties. Separately, farmer Ida Huddleston and daughter Delsia Bare rejected ~$26 million in combined offers to sell 534 acres of family farmland to the anonymous developer. At contentious March 25-26 rezoning hearings, residents pressed the developer's attorney on the company's identity, which has only been shared with officials bound by NDAs. The majority of hearing speakers objected to the project.

Project Kestrel
Project Kestrel, a $100B multi-phase data center campus by Shenandoah Computing LLC (linked to Google), proposes six hyperscale data centers totaling 1.8 million sq ft on 379 acres at the KCI-29 mega-site north of Kansas City International Airport. PortKC received a conduit bond application that could reach $100B with property tax incentives for up to 35 years per phase. Phase 1 construction is set to begin in 2026, with full build-out over 20 years. Expected to generate $110M+ in total tax revenue and ~50 high-paying jobs per phase. Platte County Presiding Commissioner has publicly objected to the project.

Lower Mt. Bethel Data Center Campus
Peron Development / J.G. Petrucci Company
Peron Development and J.G. Petrucci Company are proposing a data center campus on approximately 450 acres at the intersection of Gravel Hill Road and Martins Creek Belvidere Highway in Lower Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton County. The site is across from the John M. Mauser Nature Education Trail System along the scenic Delaware River. A petition gathered ~4,600 signatures voicing concerns about the project. The proposal remains under review with no formal approval as of early 2026.

Wildwood Ranch Data Center
The Joplin City Council approved annexation and rezoning of Wildwood Ranch for a data center. The Joplin Sustainable Technology Alliance launched a referendum effort but fell short, collecting only about half of the ~8,000 signatures needed by the March 7 deadline. On March 17, 2026, the Council certified the petitions as insufficient. The annexation and rezoning of the 600-acre Wildwood Ranch site stands. The site, owned by local developer Jimmer Pinjuv, offers 200+ MW capacity on the southwest side of the city. The project involves 100 MW capacity, 540 acres.
Joplin Citizens Against Wildwood Ranch Data Center Site

AWS Data Center Hobart
Despite a petition with 2,500+ signatures and a 4,000-member opposition group, Hobart reached a deal with Amazon Web Services for a data center on 500+ acres. AWS plans to invest $15 billion in 2.4 GW of data center capacity across Northwest Indiana. The project was approved over community objections. The No Data Centers Hobart Indiana group has launched a dedicated opposition website with legal and community action resources. The project involves 500 acres.

Plainfield Data Center
RadiusDC is planning to build two 100,000 sq ft data centers in Plainfield using 24 MW of electricity and about 700 gallons of water/day. The Plainfield Plan Commission unanimously approved the primary plat petition on Jan. 5, 2026, after more than a dozen concerned residents objected to the project during public comment. A Change.org petition opposes the project citing lack of transparency. The project involves 31 acres.

Lordstown AI Data Center
Bristolville 25 Developer LLC / BHGH Properties LLC
Lordstown was one of the first Ohio municipalities to institute a moratorium on data centers. In October 2025, developer Bristolville 25 Developer LLC submitted site plans for a 133-acre, $3.6B data center project spanning Trumbull and Mahoning counties. In November 2025, the council initially passed an outright ban on data centers, then rescinded it after legal advice and replaced it with a 180-day moratorium. Bristolville 25 filed a lawsuit in the Ohio Supreme Court in November 2025, alleging the village failed to properly review their proposal and is using the moratorium to squash the project. In a March 9, 2026 filing, Bristolville argued the mandamus should still be issued since Lordstown imposed the moratorium only after the lawsuit was filed. The project would create 1,600 construction jobs and 120 permanent positions with an average hourly wage over $84.
Coalition Against Data Centers in South Ohio

Cleveland IX Center Data Center
Ohio Industrial Realty Group (potential tenant: Amazon)
A petition led by resident Cassia Core gathered nearly 2,000 signatures voicing concerns about Ohio Industrial Realty Group's proposed conversion of the historic Cleveland IX Center into a 25 MW AI data center, with Amazon reportedly a potential tenant. The IX Center has hosted the Cleveland Auto Show and Christmas Connection for decades. Brook Park residents are particularly vocal about noise pollution and utility price increases. The proposal remains under review. The project involves 90 acres.
Save the IX Center Campaign (Cassia Core, organizer)

Cleveland Cliffs Steel Plant Data Center
A developer attempted to convert the Cleveland Cliffs steel plant on 66 acres of Plymouth Township's riverfront corridor into a data center for undisclosed Big Tech tenants. Over 1,000 people signed a petition voicing concerns about the project. The application was abruptly withdrawn in November 2025 due to legal issues regarding the developer's standing. The project involves the Brian O'Neill proposal, $9B investment.

Covington/Clifton Townships Data Center
Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan asked Governor Shapiro and the PA General Assembly for a three-year statewide moratorium on new large-scale data center approvals. The county alone has at least 11 proposed data center campuses, six in Archbald. State Senator Rosemary Brown announced support for a moratorium and unveiled a legislative package to restrict data centers to industrial zones. State Representatives Kyle Mullins and Kyle Donahue also back the legislation. The project involves the 1778 Rich Pike LLC proposal, 1500 MW capacity, $14.25B investment, 1,000 acres.

OpenAI/Oracle Data Center
The $7B Stargate datacenter in Saline Township faces strong community response from residents and environmental groups. Over 5,000 public comments were submitted to the Michigan Public Service Commission, with the vast majority objected to. Residents call the project 'uniquely evil' for destroying wetlands, straining the grid, and reshaping their farming community. Legal challenges allege Open Meetings Act violations in the settlement that allowed the project to proceed. DTE's 1.4GW power contract was approved 3-0 despite opposition. The project involves the Oracle proposal, 575 acres.

Resilient Technology Park / Multiple Projects
Franks Investment Company LLC / SAC III Acquisition Co
Shreveport City Council voted 7-0 on December 18, 2025 to approve a special use permit for a 2.8 million sq ft data center at Resilient Technology Park (7340 Greenwood Road), overturning the Metropolitan Planning Commission's December 3 denial. The project by Franks Investment Company LLC / SAC III Acquisition Co includes seven two-story data center buildings, a 104,000 sq ft office building, and an on-site electrical substation. Expected to create 150-200 full-time jobs at ~$85,000/year and generate $20M in local tax revenue over three years. More than 50 public comment cards were submitted and several protesters were escorted out.

Milan Data Center
Thor Equities proposed a $1B data center on 810+ acres in Augusta Township near Milan, and the Board of Trustees unanimously approved rezoning 522 acres from Agricultural Residential to General Industrial in July 2025. Residents formed Protect Augusta Charter Township (PACT) and submitted 957 petition signatures for a referendum, which was certified in September 2025. The referendum was placed on the August 4, 2026 ballot, where voters will decide whether to repeal the rezoning. Opponents cite noise, pollution, and higher electric rates. The project involves 100 MW capacity, 800 acres.

Pennhurst Data Center
East Vincent's planning commission recommended rejection of a proposed 1.9 million sq ft data center at the former Pennhurst State School and Hospital for the second time. Commission cited 'significant deficiencies' with one member saying it 'looks like three big boxes dropped from Planet Zog.' Conditional use hearing process begins April 20.
Prevent East Vincent Data Center Development

Construction is underway on Rowan Digital Infrastructure's $700M data center in Temple, while a second project ('Project Ranger') spanning 303 acres is planned. Nearly 60 residents met on April 7, 2026 to discuss launching recall petitions against Mayor Tim Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Jessica Walker, and Council Member Mike Pilkington over limited transparency around utility service agreements. Organizers have 30 days to collect signatures from 30% of registered voters. Concerns include air/noise pollution, water consumption, and grid strain.

Gordon County enacted a preemptive data center moratorium, despite no active data center proposals. County officials studied ordinances in Jackson, Spalding, and Wayne counties to develop regulations for the design, construction, operation, and remediation of data centers. Officials said the goal is to ensure that 'when data centers come, we will get the benefits of them, but not the burdens.' The county near Calhoun determined it needs specific regulations before any data center development can proceed.
Gordon County Board of Commissioners (preemptive)

Albemarle County proposed a zoning overlay for data centers that would designate five areas as appropriate. The Piedmont Environmental Council raised concerns. The county paused the process in October 2025 to evaluate potential legislation from the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session. The community achieved a partial victory in its effort.

Mvskoke Technology and Innovation Park
Jordan Harmon and Mackenzie Roberts (both Muscogee Nation citizens) organized town halls after plans emerged to build a massive AI data center on 5,500 acres of Muscogee Nation land (the Looped Square Ranch near Okmulgee) originally purchased for food security, hunting, and fishing. Elected officials were required to sign NDAs preventing them from sharing project details with constituents. The Muscogee Nation National Council voted 4-11 to reject the proposal (NCA 25-077) on November 15, 2025. Featured on the cover of TIME magazine in February 2026. The project involves 5,500 acres.

Project Pyramid
Google confirmed a $4B, 600 MW data center on 1,178 acres in West Memphis, Arkansas ('Project Pyramid'). Critics raised concerns about water, noise, utility rate increases, and that 1,100 acres support only 300 jobs. Arkansas Act 373 allows utilities to pass infrastructure costs to ratepayers. The project was approved despite opposition. The project involves 1,178 acres.

Dundee Township enacted a 90-day moratorium on data center development in October 2025 in response to Cloverleaf Infrastructure's proposal. The moratorium was extended six months in January 2026, carrying it through mid-2026. During the moratorium, no new applications can be submitted, and anything already in process is frozen. The township board is gathering information before taking a formal position. At least 27 Michigan communities now have active data center moratoria. State Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy) introduced legislation to halt data center construction statewide until April 2027.

The City of Bristol unanimously approved a 2-year moratorium on data processing centers in September-October 2025, passing on both readings. The moratorium will remain in effect through 2027 while the city researches comprehensive zoning regulations including industrial zoning amendments, residential setbacks, utility needs (electricity/cooling), building styles, and community input requirements. The city had no existing zoning regulations for data centers before the moratorium.

Project Nova
Microsoft cancelled its 244-acre, 900 MW Caledonia data center (Project Nova) after a 2,000-signature petition and strong community opposition forced a rethinking of the plan. Microsoft said it remains committed to the region and Racine County officials are working to identify an alternative site, possibly still in Caledonia. Microsoft's other Wisconsin projects (Mount Pleasant, Kenosha) are unaffected. The project involves $7B investment.

Lighthouse / Stargate
Residents in Fredonia and Saukville formed a joint coalition to challenge new power-line routes serving the Vantage Data Center planned for Port Washington. The 'Responsible Energy Alliance' (~500 members) and the 'Protect Fredonia Coalition' (chaired by Pastor Patti Plough) are pushing back against against American Transmission Company's proposed routes of 96-123 miles of new transmission lines and up to 5 new substations. ATC submitted its application to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. The PSC will decide on routes in spring 2026. The project involves the Vantage Data Centers proposal, 1300 MW capacity, $15B investment, 672 acres.

California SB 57 directs the CPUC to assess whether investor-owned utility costs from new data center loads result in cost shifts to other retail customers. Report is due to the Legislature by January 1, 2027. Signed by Governor Newsom on October 11, 2025 (Chapter 647, Statutes of 2025). The law takes a study-only approach; earlier prescriptive provisions were removed.

Thomas A. Hobbs Living Trust (applicant)
Thomas A. Hobbs Living Trust requested rezoning of a 138-acre site along Joe Prather Highway (25025 Joe Prather Hwy, Ekron) from Agricultural/Residential to Light Industrial for data center development in Meade County, Kentucky. After a 5-hour public hearing with 150+ residents and a 2,800-signature petition, the Planning Commission declined to recommend rezoning. Fiscal Court unanimously blocked the proposal and subsequently adopted a moratorium (Ordinance 2025-07) on new data center and IT infrastructure facility applications.
Meade County Residents Against Data Centers

Manchester Township enacted a 2-year data center moratorium beginning October 14, 2025 — one of the longest moratorium durations among Michigan communities. By Feb 2026, at least 27 Michigan communities had active moratoria as part of a wider push that has now reached the State Capitol where a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a three-bill package to temporarily halt new data center development across Michigan. Despite township opposition, the high-profile Stargate project in nearby Saline Township is moving toward 2026 groundbreaking.
Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan

Project Skyway
Google's Project Skyway data center on 482 acres in Pine Island faces an environmental lawsuit. Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy's lawsuit challenging the adequacy of Pine Island's environmental review (AUAR) had a summary judgment hearing in Goodhue County District Court on April 6, 2026, with a second hearing on April 20. MCEA is asking courts to require a more comprehensive environmental impact statement.

Project Loon
The proposed 1.8 million sq ft 'Project Loon' hyperscale data center near Hermantown continues to face opposition. Data center opponents joined critics of a proposed 67.5-mile, $400M power transmission line from Grand Rapids to Hermantown at PUC public meetings April 6-9, 2026. The power line would end at a substation where Google is planning the data center. Opponents argue the transmission infrastructure enables data centers and that the $400M cost is being spread among all power consumers in the region.
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA)

Directs electric public utilities to file a new tariff for large load customers (100+ MW/month) with the BPU, designed to ensure non-data-center ratepayers are protected from increased costs caused by massive electricity demand. Gov. Murphy pocket-vetoed the original bill before leaving office in January 2026. Reintroduced in the new session as S731/A796, which passed the New Jersey General Assembly with bipartisan support.

Logan County Commissioners unanimously approved a 180-day moratorium on solar, wind, data center, and battery energy storage development in October 2025 after Granite Renewables (New York-based, develops co-located data centers) began visiting county officials. The potential project involves up to 2 GW of electricity, a $15B capital investment, 1,000 construction jobs, and 50-100 permanent positions. Commissioners expressed a desire for economic development but wanted to avoid hasty decisions. Water availability from the South Platte River is a key concern.

Atlanta West
Douglas County imposed a 90-day data center moratorium in a 4-1 vote in March 2025, later extended in August 2025 to study ratepayer impacts. DC BLOX closed $1.15B in green loan financing in August 2025 for its 120MW Atlanta West campus on 54 acres in Lithia Springs, adjacent to Microsoft and Google facilities. DC BLOX Phase 1 delivery delayed to 2026. Separately, a company filed an application for 11 buildings and three warehouse data centers in western Douglas County. Planning officials raised concerns about ratepayer costs for infrastructure upgrades.

Stafford County adopted Virginia's strictest data center regulations in a 4-2-1 vote on October 22, 2025, including a 750-foot setback from residences (up from 100 ft), 200-foot vegetative buffer (up from 50 ft), 55 dB noise cap, and post-occupancy noise evaluations annually for 10 years. Five already-approved projects (Stafford Technology Campus, Potomac Church Tech Center, Centreport Gateway/Pemberton, Vantage VA-4, Cranes Corner) were grandfathered in December 2025. The regulations are believed to be the most stringent for data centers in Virginia.

Amazon Web Services is building a $500M data center on 243 acres along Route 3 in Stevensburg, Culpeper County, with two buildings totaling 427,000 sq ft and approximately 90MW capacity. The project attracted opposition from the Coalition to Save Culpeper and the Piedmont Environmental Council. Culpeper's elected officials have approved over 12 million square feet of new data center campuses total. A special Town Council meeting in October 2025 discussed a Minimum Revenue Agreement between STACK Infrastructure and the Town of Culpeper. Opposition groups participated in Lobby Day in Richmond in January 2026 advocating for data center industry reform. Culpeper data centers are permitted to emit up to 55 dBA at night, which opponents say is ten times louder than WHO-recommended levels.

Project Red Wolf is a $12B, 600MW data center campus by DCD Properties on 548 acres near Kansas Speedway, splitting 300MW north and 300MW south of Parallel Parkway. A protest petition and lawsuit by residents challenging the rezoning has put the project on hold. The Unified Government also has Project Yardbird (200MW conversion of former Quindaro Power Station; PowerTransitions has a $13.6M option) and Project Linda (200MW, location undisclosed) in the pipeline. As of early 2026, the lawsuit pending against Red Wolf remains the main obstacle; KCUR and The Beacon have published in-depth analyses of how data centers could raise BPU residential utility bills.

Putnam County passed a one-year moratorium on wind, solar, data centers, and small modular nuclear reactor projects in November 2025. As of March 2026, commissioners are reviewing ordinances from White and Miami counties as references — including requirements for IDEM permits on backup generators, closed-loop or air-only cooling, and mandatory fire protection training for local fire departments. Putnam joins Marshall (Feb 2025), White (Oct 2025), and Fulton among Indiana counties enacting data center moratoria. Indiana state lawmakers took little action on data center bills in the 2026 session.

Wildcat Ridge proposed a $2.1 billion, 17.2M sq ft data center campus in Archbald. Borough Council approved a zoning amendment expanding data center eligibility from 4 to 9 districts. Residents filed a land use appeal in Lackawanna County Court, alleging the ordinance was drafted at developers' expense. Three data center developers intervened to defend the zoning. On March 18-19, Archbald Borough Council underwent a leadership coup driven by data center opposition — members voted to remove the president and VP. A 7th data center proposal (Project Green, Stavola Quarry) emerged. Borough Council unanimously DENIED the 14-building data center campus on March 27, after a regime change ousted three council leaders on March 19. Post-denial: Council member Aniska resigned. Denial was procedural (incomplete record) — developer could refile. The project involves the Wildcat Ridge Data Center Campus proposal, 1600 MW capacity, 574 acres.

Mesh Capital LLC sought to remove a protective proffer from a 57-acre property on Cabin Field Road. Supervisors voted 5-2 to deny the request in October 2025. However, since data centers have by-right use on heavy industrial zoned properties, the developer submitted three new site plans for a scaled-back 450,000 sq ft data center that staff determined to be in compliance with the proffer.

Southland Paper Mill Data Center
Denver-based Amp Z proposed Project Lufkin, a multi-gigawatt data center on 1,000+ acres at the former Southland Paper Mill site near the Neches River in Angelina County, TX. Total investment estimated at $1.05-$1.5 billion. Phased buildout: 175MW grid-connected by 2026, 1.1GW by 2028, ultimately 2.1GW. Estimated 500 construction jobs over 4+ years and ~30 permanent positions. As of early 2026, the project remains under negotiation and has not been approved for construction; scope and layout still being developed. A Change.org petition voicing community concerns continues to circulate.

Rockford Data Center
Monarch Energy's proposed $12B, 800 MW data center on 1,100+ acres near Chicago-Rockford International Airport is advancing. Monarch Rock Air LLC was formed April 2025. On February 17, 2026, FERC accepted an agreement allowing Monarch Rock Air to use ComEd transmission lines. Construction could begin late 2026 or spring 2027, with early operations projected for 2028. The project would use up to 3 million gallons of water per day. Expected to create 1,000+ construction jobs and ~200 permanent technology jobs. Neighbors fear property destruction and environmental impacts.

Foristell Data Centers
Oppidan Investment Co. / Longhorn Property Management / RR Realty Holdings
Two data center developers are eyeing over 400 acres of undeveloped land in Foristell, a growing city along I-70 straddling St. Charles and Warren counties. A public hearing was delayed from Jan. 5 to Jan. 20, 2026 to find a larger venue. Resident Phyllis Elizabeth Wall brought a petition with 150+ signatures. The Change.org petition has 784 signatures. Residents cite concerns that Foristell lacks infrastructure and oversight for such development. UPDATE: The Foristell Board of Aldermen is scheduled to hold the second reading and final vote on the 216-acre land annexation on March 16, 2026. If approved, residents can file a protest petition within 14 days (requiring signatures of 5% of qualified voters). A Change.org petition has been launched. Developer: Oppidan Investment Company / Connect. The project involves the Oppidan Investment Co. proposal.

Project COBRA
QTS is building a nine-building $1 billion campus near Lake Wylie, threatening the 95-acre Penland Christmas Tree Farm next door. Residents are concerned about noise, blinding security lights, and the sale of 400+ acres under the secretive code name 'Project COBRA' without community knowledge. Nearly 800 people signed a petition to stop the project. The tree farm owner worries increased heat could dry out his trees and ruin a nearly 60-year-old family business. Opposition group York County Citizens for Responsible Growth launched a Change.org petition with 900+ signatures. QTS held a face-to-face meeting with residents in February. York County Council has stood by the project and its 40-year incentive package. The project involves the QTS Data Centers proposal, $8B investment, 800 acres.
York County Citizens for Responsible Growth

Kokomo Data Center
Whitmore & Blackwell (developer) / Indiana Economic Development Corporation
A Change.org petition titled 'Prevent Data Centers from Establishing in Kokomo Indiana' gathered signatures citing concerns about water consumption, utility cost increases, and higher taxes. The Kokomo Common Council approved annexation and rezoning of 746 acres of formerly unincorporated Howard County land for industrial use, with Council Member Bob Stephenson the sole vote against both ordinances. Mayor Moore has publicly vouched to protect Kokomo from data centers, but more than a dozen residents shared concerns about the impacts of industrial development at the council meeting. The project involves the Whitmore & Blackwell proposal, 750 acres.

South Strabane Mega Data Center
JLL (marketing agent) / CNX Resources (landowner)
South Strabane Township began drafting data center regulations after CNX Resources' 1,400-acre tract (with 400 buildable acres) was marketed by JLL for data center development. 'No Data Centers' signs appeared along roads. The township planning commission voted in March 2026 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt a draft ordinance requiring 1,000-foot setbacks from residential homes and a community benefit agreement requiring developers to pay for police, fire, public safety, and infrastructure. Residents packed a 3-hour public hearing at the Oak Spring Road Fire Department in early April 2026. As of early April, CNX's property has not been sold, and there are no current plans to build a data center in the township. The Board of Supervisors is set to take up the ordinance at its April 28 meeting.

ESS NetZero Data Center
Energy Storage Solutions (ESS) is planning a 'NetZero' data center off Dunn Road in Fayetteville (Cumberland County, NC), built in 8 phases with $6.4B investment as part of ESS's $19.2B North Carolina footprint. The project would be powered by Piedmont Natural Gas and PWC (Fayetteville Utilities) 69kV line plus Duke Energy 115/230kV lines. As of early 2026, three of seven Cumberland County commissioners have publicly said they would vote for a moratorium on data centers following a spirited public hearing. No company is currently seeking formal approval; commissioners are positioning to get ahead of any application. Cumberland County is drafting its first data center rules. A Change.org petition continues to gather signatures opposing the project.
Cumberland County Residents Against Data Centers

Tract Silver Springs / Multiple Data Centers
Tract acquired 1,060 acres near Silver Springs in Lyon County to develop a datacenter park with up to 1.6GW capacity. The Lyon County Planning Commission unanimously approved the rezoning of 500+ acres. Some citizens expressed opposition citing environmental impacts and accusations of official corruption. Microsoft is also developing a 274-acre datacenter in Silver Springs. The first phase provides 150MW across 2-4 buildings. The project involves 1,060 acres.
Citizens Against Over Development in Lyon County

Project Baccara
Takanock LLC proposed Project Baccara: 700 MW of natural gas generators and data center buildings on 160 acres near Surprise. A petition neared 5,000 signatures. The Arizona Corporation Commission approved a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility 5-0 in February 2026, but additional permits are still required.

Jonesborough enacted a 2-year moratorium on data processing centers and cryptocurrency operations, passing unanimously (Oct 13 first reading, Nov 3 final, 2025). Washington County followed in 2026, with commissioners voting 13-2 to approve a one-year moratorium on new data centers (including crypto mines) running through June 30, 2027. The Washington County resolution acknowledged data centers' 'extraordinary levels of electrical power' and grid strain. Separately, the Washington County Commission approved BWX Technologies' rezoning request for a 55-acre property at 1367 Old State Route 34 in Jonesborough, supporting BWXT's $714M expansion for a $1.5B federal contract for high-purity depleted uranium processing.

Project Triton
Norton City Council introduced a 180-day moratorium on data center zoning certificates after rejecting Quantum HPC's proposed 485,000 sq ft data center ('Project Triton') at the former PPG limestone mine. On October 20, council voted 5-0 to block the project after the company's founder was found to have made false statements about his education and litigation history. Quantum HPC withdrew their proposal. The project involves 90 acres.

$5B Data Center Proposal
Wiscasset Selectboard voted in November 2025 to pause conversations about a $5B data center on town-owned land along the Back River after resident Richard Davis launched 'Protect Wiscasset,' a grassroots campaign. Little information about the end user, utility usage, or power source had been disclosed after the project was first revealed on September 16, 2025, alarming residents. The selectboard is developing a transparent evaluation process with no established timeline for completion. The project involves 300 acres.

Farmington Technology Park
Tract received approval for a 708MW hyperscale data center consisting of 12 buildings up to 80 feet tall and 2.53 million sq ft, plus an electrical substation and several hundred generators with over a million gallons of stored fuel. Residents filed a lawsuit against the City of Farmington, alleging environmental and public health harms including air quality degradation, noise, and strain on water and electricity supplies. The Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development was formed to coordinate opposition. Castle Rock Township told Farmington and the Metropolitan Council it didn't consent to the proposed zoning changes, just weeks before the city council approved the project. Tract requested a one-year extension of the plat recording deadline to May 2026. The lawsuit is in discovery with a trial potentially in summer or fall 2026. The project involves $5B investment, 330 acres.
Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development

Johnson County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data center rezoning and permits in unincorporated areas on Nov. 8, 2025. The moratorium runs through November 8, 2026. The county is 3-4 months from finalizing a comprehensive ordinance addressing location, water usage, and facility size. While no firms had proposed building in Johnson County, the moratorium was adopted proactively given the regional surge in data center proposals.

Tama County Board of Supervisors approved moratoriums on both data mining/centers and battery storage on November 10, 2025. Applies to all proposed facilities regardless of size, technology, or location. Typo corrections made in follow-up meetings Nov 17-18. Key concerns driving this action include zoning concerns. The outcome remains pending.

Barberton City Council approved an indefinite moratorium on data centers in November 2025. In neighboring Norton, Quantum HPC's Project Triton proposal for the old PPG mine on Limestone Drive was killed in October 2025 after a contentious town hall meeting on October 13, where the Quantum HPC founder made statements the city law director determined were not true. The developer informed the city the representative was no longer working for them, and the project was withdrawn. Around 18 Ohio municipalities have enacted or are considering data center moratoriums.

Mitchell County approved moratoriums on utility-scale solar (Resolution #1326-25, Nov 12, 2025, unanimous) and data centers until Dec 31, 2026 (Resolution #1336-25, Nov 25, 2025, 4-1 vote). Supervisor Wherry was the key proponent. The county also has ongoing disputes about the Salt Creek Wind project.

Hamilton Innovation Center
Hamilton City Council Chambers were packed on Nov. 12 with residents voicing concerns about Logistix's proposed Hamilton Innovation Center, a 240 MW, 320,000 sq ft data center on 29 acres. Resident Teri Cunningham created the Coalition Against Data Centers in South Ohio Facebook group with 600+ members. Citizens circulate petitions, create yard signs, and speak at biweekly council meetings. The proposal remains under review. The project involves $1B investment.
Coalition Against Data Centers in South Ohio

TAC Data Centers pulled out of its option to lease 569 acres adjacent to the AgriTech Park in Great Falls, Montana in November 2025, ending a $1-1.5 billion, 2-million-square-foot, 600 MW campus plan known as Project Cardinal. The project would have demanded up to 600 MW by 2030 — approximately 88% of what Montana's existing NorthWestern Energy customers use. TAC's subsidiary Ardent Tech said it could not proceed without NorthWestern Energy's cooperation in securing sufficient power supply.

Nine Montana nonprofits filed a PSC complaint to stop NorthWestern Energy from shifting data center infrastructure costs to 413,000+ residential customers. NWE signed Letters of Intent with 11 data center developers for up to 1,400 MW without regulatory approval. In March 2026, Earthjustice challenged a PSC protective order shielding LOI details, arguing NWE hasn't shown trade secret qualification. The complaint is ongoing. The project involves 5,000 acres.
Butte Watchdogs for Social and Environmental Justice

Atlas Power / Sabey Data Center Properties
Sabey Data Centers proposed two 500,000 sq ft buildings (1M sq ft total) on over 600 acres at Montana Connections Industrial Park in Butte, MT (Silver Bow County), requiring 325 MW of power and water-based cooling. Atlas Power's existing Butte facility (former Mike Mansfield Advanced Tech Center, formerly CryptoWatt) operates at 75 MW air-cooled and is in 'contractual estimate' stage with NorthWestern Energy for 75 MW more by 2026, growing another 75 MW over the subsequent 3-5 years. Atlas plans to expand its flagship operation. NorthWestern is reportedly in talks with 11 separate data center developers as of February 2026, raising concerns about water impacts and ratepayer cost shifts.
Butte Watchdogs for Social and Environmental Justice

Pittsfield Township enacted a 180-day data center moratorium in November 2025 — one of at least 27 Michigan communities to do so. Township representative Morgan Foreman is co-sponsoring the bipartisan three-bill data center moratorium package introduced by Michigan lawmakers in late February 2026 (Reps. Wortz, Fox, and Wegela). The 'Data Center Regulation Act' would prohibit new data centers from receiving state or local permits or commencing operations until April 1, 2027. However, the moratorium legislation faces uncertain prospects under Speaker Matt Hall and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Sullivan County Commissioner Jessica Means introduced a 4-month moratorium resolution on data mining and crypto mining centers on November 20, 2025. The commission deferred the vote at their December meeting. Subsequently, a major data center project was announced for Sullivan County (Indiana, near Merom Generating Station / Heartland Industrial Park, 1,000+ acres). Phase 1: $20B investment, 750 peak construction jobs, 125 permanent jobs. Phase 2: $45B, 2,000 peak construction jobs, 375 permanent. Project includes seven buildings and two end users. Community benefit package includes $25M to the county per phase plus $4.5M for local programs (Brownbaggers School Food, Merom Camp, Sullivan County Park and Lake).

Township enacted a unanimous six-month moratorium on Nov. 20, 2025 after ~2 hours of public comment. Trustee Bob Wilson confirmed Meta was behind the project, estimating a $9B investment and the center occupying at least 20% of the 1,000-acre space. The group 'Stop the Data Centers Livingston County' said the moratorium as passed did not apply to the current developer. In December 2025, the developers withdrew the rezoning request, stating they wanted to 'honor the current moratorium.' FracTracker Alliance celebrated the withdrawal as a community win. Developer withdrew $1B project after resident outcry, but moratorium remains in effect while township drafts zoning rules. The project involves 1,000 acres.
Livingston County Residents for Responsible Development

Amazon/AWS announced a $3 billion data center campus near the Port of Vicksburg on Nov 20, 2025, after 2.5 years of secret development behind NDAs. Community forums revealed widespread concern about transparency, water usage, and environmental impacts. The project was named one of 2025's 'Worst Economic Development Deals.' Opposition is ongoing. The project involves 175 acres.
Vicksburg Residents Against Data Center (ad hoc)

Marshall County became the first Indiana county to pass a data center moratorium in early February 2025. Commissioner and zoning board member Stan Klotz pushed for the pause, citing concerns about development impacts observed in other areas. Following Marshall County's lead, White County adopted a moratorium in October 2025 and Putnam County in November 2025, making three Indiana counties with active moratoriums. The moratorium is intended to give leaders time to better understand long-term impacts of large data facilities and update zoning rules if necessary.

SF ARK1
Serverfarm acquired 135 acres through subsidiary SF ARK1 LLC, north of the water treatment plant on Palmer Road in Clarksville, Arkansas. Plans call for six buildings totaling over 2 million sq ft with 318 MW capacity. The project could cost $8 billion at full build-out. Residents are calling for a pause and public hearing, stating 'Arkansas land, water, and communities are not for sale.' Despite a Change.org petition, the city has approved the project.

Amazon/AWS proposed a $4B datacenter on 471 acres in Wilmington with a 30-year, 100% property tax abatement (effective 70% abatement). Jessica Sharp organized the Facebook group 'Wilmington Residents for Responsible Development' which grew to nearly 3,000 members. WRRD demands Tier 4 EPA generators, air quality monitoring, closed-loop cooling, and a Community Benefits Agreement. Daily water demand could exceed 1 million gallons. Retired executive Kurt Cooper serves as liaison to officials. Wilmington City Council approved annexation and rezoning of ~545 acres for AWS despite continued opposition. However, separate site-plan, utility, and tax-incentive reviews are still required before construction. The site plan was tabled after city staff identified missing details on water service demands, cooling methods, noise mitigation, and pollution -- which AWS called 'proprietary information.' Wilmington Council voted 5-2 on Feb 20 to rezone 545 acres (4 parcels) from rural residential to light industrial, clearing a major procedural hurdle for AWS. A second data center by Ardent Technologies (affiliated with TAC Data Centers) got an additional 500 acres rezoned for a $6B investment. Planning Commission tabled a conditional use amendment 5-1 on March 3. WRRD (Wilmington Residents for Responsible Development) named Kurt Cooper as liaison, pushing for moratorium and planning legal challenge. The project involves 1500 MW capacity.
Wilmington Residents for Responsible Development (WRRD)

Hogansville Data Center
Hogansville City Council approved a 90-day moratorium halting all data center applications, including Fertile Ground Investments' proposal for a 600 MW data center on 437 acres of the city's old sprayfield property on Hightower Road. The developer had until March 2026 to present a proposal contingent on rezoning from residential to industrial. The project would bring ~$400K/year in tax revenue but only 30-35 jobs. Residents expressed concerns about property values, water consumption, energy costs, and utility bill increases.

Monroe County passed a data center moratorium on unincorporated land after commissioners unanimously rejected the 900-acre, $5.8 billion Bolingbroke Technology Campus. Nearly 900 residents packed the county meeting to challenge the project, citing traffic, water use, and industrialization of rural land. The property owner subsequently sued the county. The project involves the Otis Ingram proposal, 1100 MW capacity.

Athens-Clarke County Commission originally imposed an emergency moratorium on data centers in December 2025, extended it to June 5, 2026, and used the time to develop permanent regulations. On April 9, 2026, the Commission voted to lift the moratorium and replace it with a permanent zoning ordinance requiring: data centers only in heavy industrial zones, mandatory closed-loop cooling systems (reducing water use), and reporting requirements for water and energy consumption.

Cloverleaf Infrastructure scrapped plans in Carlton (Kewaunee County) after local residents objected to the idea. Town Chairman David Hardtke told Cloverleaf 'if this is such a good thing for the town I want the public informational meeting and they would not do that -- it's not good for the town.' Chris Kohnle of Tisch Mills Farm Center warned 'once they take land away, it'll never come back.' The developer was subsequently also rejected in the Village of Greenleaf (Brown County). Carlton's proximity to Lake Michigan made it attractive for cooling.

Big Rapids Township passed an ordinance banning data centers in its 120-acre airport industrial park, part of a wave of at least 27 Michigan communities enacting moratoria or zoning restrictions on data center development amid concerns about grid strain and inadequate local zoning codes. Opposition was led by Michiganders Against Data Centers and Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan. A petition gathered 11,077 signatures. The outcome remains pending.
Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan

AI data center campus
Infrakey, a data center company formed in March 2025, proposed a $10B, 925 MW, 21-building data center campus on 520 acres west of Elm Mott in Lacy Lakeview (McLennan County, TX) — the largest industrial development in McLennan County history. Includes a dedicated 1.2 GW behind-the-meter natural gas power plant and reclaimed water cooling. Lacy Lakeview signed an MOU with Infrakey in June 2025. Project would generate $50M/year in tax revenue for the 7,000-resident town. As of early 2026 the project remains in 'planning' stage with a 4-5 year buildout. Concerns from neighboring small towns who say they 'knew nothing about it.'
Stop the Data Center on Taylor Lane (Facebook group)

Kingsboro Business Park
Energy Storage Solutions (ESS) plans a $6.4B, 900 MW, 300-acre data center and energy storage campus at the Kingsboro Business Park, Tarboro, NC — part of ESS's $19.2B North Carolina footprint. Would use up to 5 million gallons/day while Edgecombe County faces severe drought conditions. Significant community opposition, including riverkeepers, NCEJN, and Sound Rivers. In a major political development, David Batts defeated 4-term incumbent Donald Boswell in the March 2026 Democratic primary, running primarily on opposition to the Kingsboro data center proposal — representing a significant political consequence for officials who support data center development.
Edgecombe Neighbors for Data Center Accountability

Project Matador / Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus
Project Matador / Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus, proposed by Fermi America on approximately 5,236 acres 12 miles NE of Amarillo, received a 5.1 GW air permit from TCEQ. The air permits would allow 93 gas-fired turbines around the perimeter, making it the largest gas plant in the US if built. Authorized to release approximately 5,400 tons/year of regulated air pollutants (NOx, CO, VOCs, particulate matter) and up to 23.6 million tons/year of greenhouse gases. Over 279 comments were filed with TCEQ (mostly voicing concerns about) plus 63 contested case hearing requests. The facility would consume 2.5-5.5 million gallons/day from municipal water sources threatening the Ogallala Aquifer, with some residents estimating only five more years of water remaining. Construction paused pending TCEQ permits; a key tenant terminated its agreement in December 2025. The project involves 7650 MW capacity, 5,236 acres.

Sabey Data Centers' $4B, 130-acre, 250MW data center campus in Decatur Township was approved by the Metropolitan Development Commission on March 18, 2026 despite months of community opposition. The project includes two buildings totaling 900,000 sq ft. Sabey committed to $5M in community improvements and $20M in projected tax revenues. Opponents plan judicial review of the decision.

Microsoft purchased 240 acres in Kenosha County near I-94 and Route 142 in early 2025, with the data center scheduled to open in early 2026. The city signed an NDA with Microsoft in May 2024, keeping the project secret for six months. A resident's viral TikTok video triggered a wave of community opposition. Kenosha City Hall was standing-room only on Nov. 17 as residents packed Common Council chambers. Citizens called data centers 'parasites' and 'terrible neighbors.' A Change.org petition was created to stop the project. The project involves 450 MW capacity, $4B investment.
Kenoshans Unite Against Microsoft Data Center

Janesville signed an NDA with Viridian Acquisitions LLC for a proposed $8B, 800 MW data center on 250 acres, sparking resident opposition. The group SNOW (Stop Needless Opposition Waste) determined the data center would not reliably improve quality of life. Protests were held in Janesville as part of statewide Wisconsin opposition to data centers. Community concerns center on secrecy deals and economic claims.
SNOW (Stop Negligent Operations in Wisconsin)
Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL)

Meta's $1B Beaver Dam data center campus (700,000+ sq ft, optimized for AI workloads) could use up to 220 MW of power, per newly unredacted portions of a proposed Alliant Energy service contract revealed March 2026. Will support ~1,000 construction jobs and 100+ operational jobs. The campus uses dry-cooling tech, eliminating operational water demand for cooling, and Meta committed to restoring 100% of consumed water to local watersheds. Initial data center expected online in 2027. Meta plans a Data Center Community Action Grants program launching fall 2026. Separately, a second smaller data center proposal from Oppidan (90,000 sq ft on 13 city-owned acres) is now also under consideration in Beaver Dam.
Beaver Dam Education on Data Center Group

Gemini Capital proposed a $1.9B, 500 MW hyperscale data center on 164 acres in eastern Sioux Falls. The City Council voted 7-0 on Jan. 6, 2026 to rezone the farmland for light industrial use, despite 200+ people attending in opposition with over 5 hours of mostly negative testimony. Opponents Samantha Scarlata and Amanda Kendall formed 'Let Sioux Falls Vote' and circulated referendum petitions, but fell short with 5,012 signatures submitted vs. the required 6,704 (5% of registered voters).

Strata Expanse AI Center of Excellence
Houston-based Strata Expanse hosted a ribbon cutting for an AI data center in the Haverhill area at 1476 County Road 1A. A petition gathered 5,178 signatures voicing concerns about the project. The nearby city of Ironton passed a data center moratorium on first reading. Community members demand environmental and community impact assessments before construction proceeds. The project involves 80 MW capacity.

Potential Data Center near Fort Eustis
City of Newport News (Economic Development Authority)
A resident created a petition after word spread about a potential data center near Fort Eustis, gathering 3,500+ signatures. Residents rallied against the proposal. However, city officials state there are no conversations, plans, or negotiations underway to bring a data center to Newport News. The petition demonstrates pre-emptive community opposition. The project involves the City of Newport News proposal, 20 acres.
Newport News Residents Against Data Centers

Moorestown Township Council opted out of data center development on a 25-acre vacant site (former Pulverizer Services / New Albany Business Park Redevelopment Area) along New Albany Road. The township issued a public RFQ/RFP in 2024 seeking a redeveloper, but Council members opted not to move forward with data center proposals. The township plans to re-engage in the RFQ/RFP process in 2026 to explore other uses serving the long-term interests of residents. A New Jersey Policy Perspective report titled 'Fool's Gold: The Hidden Costs of AI Data Centers for New Jersey' has bolstered statewide opposition arguments.

Hexa Builders Redevelopment Plan
Monroe Township Council introduced an ordinance on March 25 to eliminate data center and related uses from the Hexa Builders Redevelopment Plan on Black Horse Pike. After a January 8 planning board approval of a 1.6 million sq ft redevelopment, it was revealed the plan could include an AI data center, sparking public outrage. Hundreds showed up at the March 11 council meeting in opposition. Vote expected April 8.

Breckinridge County Fiscal Court passed an AI Data Center Moratorium ordinance in November 2025. Meanwhile, TeraWulf is advancing a $3-4B large-scale data center campus in nearby Hawesville (Hancock County) with access to 480 MW of grid-connected power. Fluor signed a Limited Notice to Proceed for preconstruction services in early 2026. Kentucky is seeing a wave of data center interest, with a GOP bill in 2026 seeking guardrails to ensure new data centers 'pay their own way.'

Tyrone Township (Livingston County) enacted a 6-month moratorium on data center development on December 2, 2025. The township is located near Howell Township, where a major $1 billion Meta data center proposal generated significant community opposition. Opposition was led by Michiganders Against Data Centers. A petition gathered 11,077 signatures. Key concerns driving this action include zoning concerns. The outcome remains pending.

4,500-acre, $300M solar farm near Stockton would power a Meta data center. 'Stop Solar in Stockton' Facebook group gained 2,000+ members. State Sen. Albritton filed two bills: one-year statewide moratorium on solar farm construction, and another giving county commissions regulation authority. Baldwin County hired Jacobs Engineering for third-party environmental review. The project involves 4,500 acres.

Starke County Data Center
Starke County Planning Commission unanimously advanced a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data centers exceeding 5,000 sq ft in December 2025, making it the fourth Indiana county to act. The County Commissioners subsequently voted unanimously to approve the 12-month moratorium. The moratorium was triggered by leaked emails revealing ABEI Energy's plans for a 400MW campus, with community opposition organized through a Change.org petition and packed public meetings.

Imperial Valley Data Center Campus
Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing LLC (IVCM)
Imperial County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on April 7, 2026 to approve the lot merger for a $10B, ~950,000 sq ft, 330MW data center plus 330MW emergency backup generators and 862MWh energy storage system. The City of Imperial's attempt to get a restraining order failed. Armed deputies removed at least 3 opponents from the meeting. NIMBY Imperial announced a recall effort against the approving supervisor. The project bypassed standard environmental review, with opponents citing water usage concerns in the arid Imperial Valley.

Project Vector
Endeavour Energy's 560-acre, 3M sq ft, four-building data center campus south of Meta's facility. Standing-room-only public hearing; petition against the project circulated. Despite opposition, DeKalb City Council voted unanimously to approve Dec 8, 2025. Opposition was led by Stop Project Vector (ad hoc). A petition gathered 821 signatures. Key concerns driving this action include community impacts.

Green Charter Township adopted a one-year moratorium on data center development on Dec. 9, 2025, citing concerns about water consumption, energy usage, and noise. The township was among the earliest of what became at least 27 Michigan communities to enact data center moratoria, part of a statewide backlash that escalated to bipartisan legislation (HB 5594-5596) proposing a statewide construction halt until April 2027.

St. Joseph County Council rejected Amazon/AWS's $13B datacenter rezoning 7-2 after a marathon 10-hour meeting, following an earlier unanimous unfavorable recommendation from the Area Plan Commission. Citizens for Responsible Land Use led the opposition. The proposal would have required 2,250 MW of power. The council cited concerns about water usage, grid strain, and lack of community benefit as reasons for the denial. The project involves 2250 MW capacity, 1,200 acres.
Citizens for Responsible Economic Development (CRED)

Project Tango
Project Tango proposes the first hyperscale data center in Palm Beach County on 202 acres at the Central Park Commerce Center in Loxahatchee. The project has been scaled back to 1 million square feet from its original proposal. Palm Beach County commissioners voted 7-0 to postpone the zoning hearing to April 23, 2026 to allow for further environmental and traffic studies. Residents and environmental groups raised concerns about water usage, noise, and impacts to the Loxahatchee Slough. The project involves the PBA Holdings proposal, $10B investment.
Florida Native Plant Society PBC Chapter

Hassayampa Ranch Data Center
AV Squared, backed by Chamath Palihapitiya, proposed a $25B, 1.5 GW AI data center campus on 2,000 acres near Tonopah, Arizona. The Maricopa County Board unanimously approved industrial rezoning in December 2025 despite ~200 public comments in opposition. The facility would use 3.6 billion gallons of water annually. Residents raised concerns about impacts to groundwater, traffic, and the rural desert landscape. The project involves 2,000 acres.

City Council voted 7-0 on December 12, 2025 to reject Active Infrastructure's $2.5B, 150 MW AI data center proposal on 40 acres near Queen Creek and Dobson roads. The city received over 250 emails in opposition and only 10 in support. City planning staff said the proposal did not meet Chandler's vision for the South Price Road Corridor, which prioritizes knowledge-based industries. Former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema appeared before the planning commission to advocate for the project. Chandler was among the first municipalities to restrict data center development in 2016.

Project Sail
Coweta County's moratorium on data center applications expired December 17, 2025, and the Board adopted a data center ordinance on December 16. On April 8, 2026, Coweta County commissioners voted 3-2 to rezone 829 acres from Rural Conservation to Industrial for Prologis's $17B 'Project Sail' data center campus (nine buildings, two substations, 900MW). It took 15 months, a prolonged moratorium, and a zoning code revamp. Citizens for Rural Coweta collected 8,000+ petition signatures. Opposition may pursue legal action through attorney Robert Fricks.

Ellenwood Data Center Campus
DeKalb County, Georgia Commission extended its data center moratorium until June 23, 2026 at the December 16, 2025 meeting due to community concerns about public health and environmental impacts. A public hearing on a proposed comprehensive data center ordinance is scheduled for May 12, 2026. The proposed ordinance would add data centers as a use in industrial areas, regulate location/design/architecture/noise/maintenance, and provide supplemental review standards. DeKalb is one of Georgia's largest jurisdictions to take this approach. Project proposals include the Ellenwood Data Center Campus.

Bates Mill No. 3 AI Data Center
Lewiston City Council voted 7-0 on December 16, 2025 to reject a $300M AI data center proposed by MillCompute LLC and building owner Bill Johnson's Twin Cities LLC for the historic Bates Mill No. 3 building downtown. The proposal, made public on December 11, sparked rapid community mobilization — within days, all seven councilors received overwhelming complaints and voiced opposition before the public hearing. Residents cited concerns about the financial agreement, utility impacts, and placing a data center in Lewiston's historic downtown. The project involves 24 MW capacity, 2 acres.
Mainers Against Future AI Data Center in Lewiston
Slingshot (New England environmental health and justice organization)

The Maryland General Assembly overrode Governor Moore's veto (Senate 44-0, House 111-24), enacting a law requiring a comprehensive environmental and economic analysis of data center expansion. The report is due September 2025 and must examine the cumulative impact of data center growth on electricity generation needs, grid capacity, water resource demands, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Undisclosed (inquiries from PACE land-use consultants)
Gates County passed a 12-month moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities after receiving two inquiries from PACE, a firm that prepares ordinances and land use regulations to promote data center development. County officials cited concerns about energy consumption, utility infrastructure strain, noise from cooling systems and backup generators, hazardous material storage, e-waste disposal, and land use compatibility in rural/agricultural districts. Gates County is one of at least four NC jurisdictions to approve moratoria (alongside Chatham County, Canton, and Brevard). NC has 19 proposed data centers across the state with four projects already withdrawn.

Undisclosed (data center representatives approaching landowners)
Waterville Township trustees unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on Dec. 17, 2025, citing concerns about electrical grid strain, water supply, and quality of life. The city of Waterville had passed its own 6-month moratorium nine days earlier. Both were prompted by data center interest spreading through northwest Ohio following Meta's Middleton Township project.

Franklin Lowell LLC applied to rezone 235 acres at Covenant Business Park near Grand Rapids for a data center. A public hearing was abandoned when the venue couldn't hold the opposition turnout. The City of Lowell suspended participation over unresolved water/wastewater details, and the developer withdrew its application on Dec. 18. Later reporting revealed Microsoft had signed an NDA with the township supervisor and was the undisclosed end user. The project involves $1B investment, 237 acres.

Eagle Rock Partners proposed an 859-acre, 1,000-megawatt, $6 billion data center on Cooks Hill Road near the ACE Basin. The project would cover timberland and 200 acres of wetlands. Plans include 500 permanent jobs (30% IT, 30% facilities, 30% security, 10% admin). Coastal Conservation League and SELC have objected to the project. Landowners filed a lawsuit against Colleton County over the data center ordinance. State legislators from Colleton County also object to the project. Seven state legislators (4 Republicans, 3 Democrats) from districts covering Colleton County officially came out against the project on February 5, 2026. Eagle Rock has still not filed an amended zoning application. Two lawsuits are pending. The project involves the EagleRock Partners proposal, 1 GW capacity.

South Bloomfield Village Council adopted a 180-day moratorium on data center construction and a new zoning code that does not list data centers as a permitted use, effectively preemptively banning them. The village eliminated all areas of industrial zoning to avoid data center applications. While South Bloomfield itself hasn't been approached by developers, the action was prompted by watching backlash to EdgeConneX's proposed 680-acre, 18-building data center with on-site 200 MW gas plant in neighboring Ashville.

Louisiana's LPSC adopted the 'Lightning Amendment,' which shortens the review process for large-load electricity connections to 8 months. The amendment allows utilities to bypass least-cost power demonstration requirements, requires a 15-year electric service agreement, proof of 50% self-generation capacity, and payment of all interconnection costs. Critics argue the amendment was designed to fast-track data center connections at the expense of ratepayer protections.

T-Mobile applied to remodel its McAllen data center at 1400 E. Upas Avenue in Hidalgo County. The $9.5M project remodels existing telecom equipment space to house new 5G cabinets in 14,800 sq ft, plus replaces the existing roof system. Construction August 2025-August 2026. The remodel is small-scale and 5G focused, not a hyperscale facility. Broader Rio Grande Valley region (Harlingen, etc.) is seeing residents raise water and electricity concerns over data center proposals; from Amarillo to Waco, College Station to Harlingen, Texans are increasingly pushing back.

~100 people gathered to protest a 350 MW hyperscale AI data center under construction in Vineland, which will have roughly Empire State Building-sized footprint and nearly double the city's electrical capacity. Concerns include health impacts from emissions, water use from Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer, and property values. Funded by Nebius (Amsterdam-based AI infrastructure company), built by DataOne, supporting Microsoft AI tools.
New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance (NJEJA)

Critical Digital Infrastructure Overlay Zone
TPG Real Estate Partners / Aligned Data Centers / Rowan Digital Infrastructure / Amazon (AWS)
Frederick County Council voted 5-2 on December 23, 2025 to approve the Critical Digital Infrastructure Overlay Zone (CDI-OZ) map, designating approximately 2,615 acres north of Adamstown where data centers can be located. The ordinance limits data center development to no more than 1% of the county's total landmass and restricts it to areas with existing infrastructure. Community benefit listening sessions were planned for Frederick and Adamstown. The Data Center Review Board continues oversight.
Maryland Data Center Reform Coalition (Nature Forward)
Frederick County Data Center Referendum Committee

Oshtemo Charter Township (Kalamazoo County) is formally considering a data center moratorium as of early 2026, joining Portage and at least 27 other Michigan communities with active moratoria or moratorium proposals. A township memo expresses concern over utility rates, water use, and environment. Township Supervisor Cheri Bell described it as a preemptive effort. The township board put a moratorium on battery energy storage systems (BESS) in November 2025, and Planning Director Jodi Stefforia has signaled BESS regulation will take priority over data center regulation. Illinois-based Franklin Partners has explored a 265-acre data center in nearby Pavilion Township, indicating regional developer interest.

Project Cannoli
Project Cannoli is a Google hyperscale data center campus proposed near I-94 and Haggerty Road in Van Buren Township (Wayne County), MI, requiring 1 GW of power. Google was confirmed as the company behind it in March 2026. Will use 2-3.6 million gallons/day of water purchased from the township. Van Buren Township Planning Commission voted 5-1 on Feb 11, 2026 to approve site plans; matter forwarded to Township Board of Trustees. Google committed to serving its operations with 2.7 GW of NEW resources (solar, advanced storage, demand flexibility) and explicitly said it will NOT power the facility with nuclear or natural gas. Google will put $10M into a fund for residential ratepayer relief: home weatherization, household energy efficiency, and energy workforce development. Google and DTE committed to a contested case hearing on the deal.

Beltline Energy is eyeing a 400-acre parcel near an OG&E power plant for a data center, with discussions ongoing since mid-2025. As of early 2026, no formal application has been filed, though Luther's town attorney said in a monthly report she would be 'surprised' if Beltline submitted nothing in 2026. Residents have organized opposition over concerns about excess water usage and potential chemical pollution. The Beltline site is between North Triple X Road and North Luther Road. A separate Transource powerline between Piedmont and Luther (expected complete 2027) is unrelated, per the company.

HB 259 - Large Energy Use Facilities
Alaska HB 259 (introduced January 2026 by Rep. Donna Mears) would require large energy facilities (peak demand ≥20 MW) to enter community benefit agreements with the host municipality and pay for at least 80% of contracted power amount regardless of actual purchases (a take-or-pay structure mirroring the RPP). Companion bill SB 250 also pending. Anchorage Assembly preemptively adopted data center regulations in March 2026 and overrode a mayor's veto on a related partnership. A separate Mat-Su data center plan is in doubt after a mayor veto in March 2026. The bills are responses to growing AI-driven data center interest in Alaska.

Multiple bills introduced in RI legislature. Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy's bill would require data centers with 50+ MW demand to cover all electricity infrastructure costs. Three bills introduced in the General Assembly, though lawmakers still debating how to even define 'data center.' Tax incentive proposals also under debate.

Project Laurel
The PA Game Commission approved the controversial land swap in a 6-3 vote in late January 2026, deeding 55 acres of State Game Lands 234 plus a 200-foot right-of-way to Limerick Town Center LLC. In exchange, the commission received 176 acres in Edgemont Township (Delaware County) and 377.2 acres in Bern Township (Berks County). The Limerick Board of Supervisors voted to send a letter voicing concerns about the swap. No formal data center application has been submitted yet, but one is widely expected. The project involves 750 MW capacity, 192 acres.

Conewago Township AI Data Center
Residents of Conewago Township in York County, Pennsylvania object to plans by Elysian Partners to rezone agricultural and residential land for AI data centers. The petition argues the use is incompatible with the surrounding area and demands robust protections if projects move forward. The proposal remains in the early review phase with no formal approvals. The project involves $500M investment.
STOP Data Centers & Rezoning in Conewago Twp.

Residents of Mount Horeb have rallied against approval of data centers by local officials, making it one of several Wisconsin communities opposing data center development. Mount Horeb is named alongside Mount Pleasant, Beaver Dam, Port Washington, and Janesville among communities facing pushback. Democratic state lawmakers proposed a statewide data center moratorium in February 2026, but the bill faces an uphill battle. Microsoft is moving forward with 15 data centers at the former Foxconn site in Mount Pleasant, and Meta won a $1B Wisconsin data center deal — making Wisconsin a major battleground for the data center boom.

Taylor enacted a 1-year data center moratorium in January 2026. State Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) also introduced Senate Bills 761, 762, and 763 in December to bar data centers from withdrawing more than 2 million gallons of water a day for consumptive use and to create transparency standards for water and energy use.

Dorr Township (Allegan County) enacted a moratorium on data center development while the planning commission develops an ordinance to regulate the facilities, expected to take about six months. Microsoft purchased nearly 272 acres of land off 144th Avenue near US 131 in 2024 for more than $48 million, with 128 acres planned for data center development. Microsoft terminated its NDA with Dorr Township in late February 2026. More than 50 residents attended a December 18 board meeting raising concerns about traffic, electricity, and water impacts. The project involves $750M investment.

Caledonia Township (Kent County) implemented a 6-month moratorium on data center and data mining operations effective January 1, 2026, running through June. The moratorium follows inquiries from data center developers including Microsoft. Part of a wave of at least 27 Michigan communities that enacted data center moratoria or restrictions. The township is using the pause to develop proper regulations.

Kansas SB 400 would require data centers to use closed-loop cooling systems (no water evaporation) and authorize municipalities, local district attorneys, and the state attorney general to sue for injunctions against violators. Introduced as part of the 2026 wave of state-level data center water/energy regulation legislation. Kansas is shifting focus from incentives (SB 98 passed in 2025 created a hyperscale sales tax exemption) to environmental regulation. The Kansas City Council changed zoning in January 2026 to make data centers harder to build, signaling local-level pushback complementing state legislation.

SB 34
Georgia SB34 would have prohibited data center fuel generation and transmission costs from being included in residential electricity rates, requiring commercial data centers to cover all increased fuel, power, and transmission system upgrade costs. The bill emerged after the Public Service Commission authorized Georgia Power to expand production by nearly 10 GW — mostly for data centers — including new methane-burning facilities. The Senate avoided a final vote after a last-minute alternative measure based on House Bill 1063 appeared to have the votes to pass.

Maryland's Utility RELIEF Act includes provisions addressing data center energy demand. Senate version includes a voluntary clean capacity program giving priority interconnection to projects bringing their own clean energy. Both chambers require data centers to disclose electricity and water usage to a state registry. Conference agreement reached near session end. Food & Water Watch criticized Senate version for incentivizing methane gas and nuclear for data centers.

Virginia HB 961 considers reducing tax incentives for data centers to apply only to replacement equipment and repairs (not new builds). Part of Virginia's massive 2026 legislative session focused on data centers: 61 bills considered, 15 advanced to the governor, 46 carried over to 2027. The state's $1.6B/year data center sales tax exemption remains a major budget standoff between the Senate (seeking elimination) and House (seeking to tie to environmental compliance), delaying the FY2026 budget. A special legislative session is set for April 23, 2026.

Virginia HB 897 requires data centers to use emission-free (non-diesel) backup generators and demonstrate commitment to clean energy to qualify for sales and use tax exemptions. The bill passed the House 61-34 and passed the full Senate, making Virginia one of the first states to condition data center tax incentives on environmental performance. Governor Spanberger signed HB 897 into law on April 9, 2026, alongside HB 284/SB 371 (voluntary demand flexibility programs for high-load customers using 25+ MW) and bills to aid low-income utility customers affected by data center energy demand.

HB 4424, filed by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow), ends data center eligibility for Oklahoma's property tax exemption program — which covers facility property taxes for the first five years — for facilities not operational by January 1, 2027. Hilbert previously authored a 2021 law excluding new data centers from the exemption but now seeks to close loopholes for facilities that qualified before that cutoff. The bill is part of a broader push as Oklahoma residents push back against data center impacts on energy bills, water supplies, and noise.

Project Phoenix
Aligned Data Centers (acquired by BlackRock/GIP for $40B) received conditional use approval from Shippingport Borough Council in January 2026 for 'Project Phoenix,' a $10B data center campus on the 660-acre former Bruce Mansfield coal plant site. The project would include 3 buildings totaling 2M sq ft powered by a planned 3.6GW natural gas power station. Separately, Fezzik Energy is pursuing data centers on former J&L Steel sites in Midland and Aliquippa, and Vistra Corp signed a 20-year nuclear power deal with Meta from the nearby Beaver Valley Power Station.
Beaver County Community Group Against Data Centers
Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community (BCMAC)

Jailhouse Studios
Urban Story Ventures proposed converting the old Hamilton County jail in Chattanooga, Tennessee into 'Jailhouse Studios' with an AI data center in the basement. Over 1,000 residents signed a petition voicing concerns about the data center component. The Hamilton County Commission voted to pause the project and requested an independent economic impact study before proceeding. The project involves 2 acres.
Chattanooga Residents Against Jailhouse Data Center (ad hoc)

Washington State SB 6231 repeals the retail sales and use tax exemption for refurbishment of existing computer data centers. The law makes purchases of replacement server equipment ineligible for exemption. It preserves tax benefits for new data centers in rural counties where the economic incentive is more needed. The repeal is part of a broader push to rein in data center tax breaks.

Maryland HB 560 (Del. Palakovich Karr, D - Ways & Means) would repeal the existing exemption from sales/use tax and property tax for personal property used at qualified data centers in Maryland. Part of a 2026 wave of state-level legislation rethinking data center tax incentives — over 300 state data center bills have been filed across 30+ states in just six weeks of the 2026 session. Maryland separately overrode a Moore veto to mandate a comprehensive data center impact study (due Sept 2026), reflecting growing legislative skepticism of data center subsidies as energy costs rise.

Virginia SB 619 / HB 155 requires a State Corporation Commission certificate before data centers over 90 MW can operate. The SCC issues a certificate only if the facility has no material adverse effect on other customers' rates, reliability, or the utility's ability to meet Virginia Clean Economy Act goals. This represents one of the strongest state-level data center permitting requirements in the country.

Project Jade / Switchgrass Industrial Park
Laramie County commissioners unanimously approved Project Jade, a 2.7GW data center campus (scalable to 10GW) south of Cheyenne on 1,375 acres. The $50B project by Crusoe Energy and Tallgrass Energy Partners could become the largest US data center. The Hyndman Homesites Homeowners Association wrote a letter detailing concerns about deep wells contaminating the aquifer, increased traffic and noise, light pollution, gas turbine emissions, noxious odors, and wastewater pond locations. Resident Thomas White voiced opposition about noise, light pollution, traffic, and potential water contamination from deep well drilling. The project includes 2.7GW of new natural gas-fired generation. The project involves 1,375 acres.

Applied Digital confirmed its proposed $5B, 430MW data center campus near Toronto, SD is 'unlikely to go forward' after the legislature rejected tax incentives. The CEO stated without a sales tax exemption, South Dakota is not competitive. Applied Digital may revisit after 2026 elections. Previously, the project had drawn community concern in the town of ~200 people.
Residents for Rural and Agricultural Land (RURAL)

Apollo
Meta revealed plans for an $800M, 715,000 sq ft data center on 280 acres in Middleton Township. 7 of Wood County's 19 townships have adopted temporary moratoriums, with 8 more discussing it. Residents also pushed back against fast-tracked approval of a 350 MW 'Apollo' gas plant to power the facility.
Wood County Residents Against Data Centers

S.205 Moratorium
S.205 would impose moratorium on AI data centers (facilities requiring 100+ MW) through July 1, 2030. Public Utility Commission would study impacts and recommend regulatory framework by January 2027. Faces some opposition from economic development interests. Some concern about potential conflict with December 2025 Trump executive order prohibiting states from regulating AI. Remains in Senate Finance Committee.

Northville City Council unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on data centers and similar industrial facilities on January 6, 2026, making it the first Southeast Michigan community to take proactive action before any proposals emerged. The pause allows proper planning for construction standards, environmental protections, and emergency preparedness.
Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan (EDRA of MI)

The Northville City Council unanimously approved a 12-month preemptive moratorium on data centers on January 6, 2026, halting any data center applications. Unlike other communities, Northville acted preemptively despite having no current applications. State Sen. Rosemary Bayer hosted a Northville town hall with AG Dana Nessel and environmental leaders to address growing concerns about data center proposals across SE Michigan. Nessel vowed to pursue transparency and protect ratepayers; Bayer is crafting protective legislation. Northville is one of at least 27 Michigan communities with active moratoria as of early 2026.
Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan (EDRA of MI)

Henry County began drafting strict data center regulations following interest from developers including Hampton Technology Park. Proposed rules include 200-foot buffers, 1,000-foot residential setbacks, noise limits of 55/45 dBA day/night, a ban on open evaporative cooling, and 30% tree canopy requirements. Commissioners put the regulations on hold pending further community input and legal review. The project involves 603 acres.
Citizens Opposed to Data Centers in Henry County

Springfield Township (Oakland County) Board of Trustees approved a 180-day moratorium on data center plans on January 7, 2026, three days after planners with consulting firm Giffels Webster told the planning commission that Microsoft scouts were looking at large parcels in Springfield, Independence, and White Lake townships. Part of a wave of 27+ Michigan communities enacting data center restrictions. The project involves 84 acres.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced the DATA Act of 2026 on January 8, 2026, to exempt data centers and their power suppliers from federal energy regulations if they are fully isolated from the grid. The bill creates a new regulatory category — consumer-regulated electric utilities (CREUs) — for fully off-grid power systems serving data centers. CREUs would be exempt from FERC rate regulation, reliability standards, interconnection queue processes, and transmission planning requirements. Critics warn this would let data centers bypass grid oversight while still impacting nearby communities. Companion bills include Sen. Durbin's Data Center Water and Energy Disclosure Act (March 26, 2026) and a bipartisan Hawley/Warren letter to the EIA demanding mandatory reporting. Most analysts expect transparency/disclosure bills to pass before the more controversial Cotton bill.

AI Center of Excellence
Strata Expanse (Houston), RAVEL, and Supermicro held a ribbon-cutting in December 2025 for an AI Center of Excellence and data center at 1476 County Road 1A in Lawrence County's Haverhill area, just off U.S. 52 — the first of a 30-day national rollout of Strata Expanse's 'Land-to-Hand AI' data center concept. The facility is uniquely powered by green hydrogen and is designed for AI workloads, cryptocurrency, and AI training (with community members helping train models). Lawrence County leaders met to discuss the project, and Vertiv announced a $49M facility expansion in Ironton (operational Q2 2027) to support cooling demand. Promises 520 new jobs combined.

Greenlink West Transmission Line
NV Energy's Greenlink West, a 350-mile, $4.2B+ transmission line from Las Vegas to Yerington, would carry up to 4,000 MW of clean energy. As of February 2026, towers have been erected by giant cranes along US 95 north of Las Vegas, and the Sagebrush Substation is under construction in Amargosa Valley. Construction on Segment 2 was expected to begin February 2026 but was delayed due to military overflight needs near the Nevada Test and Training Range — the Department of War is requiring FAA-compliant tower lighting and lighted marker balls. NV Energy is asking large wholesale electric customers like data centers to help pay for construction costs. NV Energy has promised Google, Switch, Novva, and other companies up to 4,000 MW for an AI/cloud data center complex larger than the city of Detroit.

The Barn (Stargate)
The Michigan Public Service Commission voted 3-0 in December 2025 to conditionally approve DTE Energy's 19-year, 1.4 GW power supply agreement for the $7 billion Stargate data center campus in Saline Township — Michigan's first hyperscale data center. Developed by OpenAI, Oracle, and Related Digital on a 575-acre site south of Ann Arbor, construction was set to begin in early 2026. DTE will supply 100% of power using existing resources plus a new battery storage investment financed entirely by the project. The contract includes take-or-pay terms requiring 80% minimum billing demand to protect ratepayers from subsidizing the facility. Project promises 450 permanent jobs and millions annually in taxes. Community opposition continues over the lack of public hearing, climate impacts, and the strain on Michigan's grid.

Project Delta
Stokes County Board of Commissioners approved (3-2 vote) in January 2026 the rezoning of approximately 1,845 acres of residential-agricultural land along the Dan River for heavy industrial use, paving the way for the Project Delta hyperscale data center complex. On March 13, 2026, the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and Southern Environmental Law Center filed suit in Stokes County Superior Court on behalf of community/environmental nonprofits (National Hairston Clan, CleanAIRE NC, Dan River Basin Association, 7 Directions of Service) and over a dozen residents, alleging the county violated state law by overriding the planning board's recommendation and approving the rezoning before a data center operator was identified. Developer Engineered Land Solutions responded on March 16. Clean Water for North Carolina is hosting a community meeting on April 16. Monthly virtual meetings continue.

Roswell City Council approved a 90-day emergency moratorium on new data centers (through April 12) as one of its first acts under a new mayor and three new council members. The Community Development Department will use the pause to create zoning and land use standards related to data centers, utility usage, and environmental issues. Roswell joins Atlanta, DeKalb County, Troup County, Social Circle, LaGrange, and Coweta County in the growing list of metro Atlanta area data center moratoriums. The project involves 10 acres.

AB 1577 Data Center Moratorium Bill
California AB 1577 (Asm. Bauer-Kahan), as of March 2026 amended and re-referred to the Committee on Utilities and Energy, would require the California Energy Commission to establish a process for data center owners to submit monthly information including location, size, power usage effectiveness, water usage effectiveness, total water consumption, and fuel consumed by onsite generators. After Big Tech blocked stricter California data center rules in 2025 (leaving only a 2027 study requirement), AB 1577's reporting framework is the lone surviving regulatory bill of its kind. Locally, Monterey Park enacted a temporary moratorium and voters will consider a permanent ban in June 2026.

Houston-based Cloverleaf Infrastructure offered $120,000 per acre for approximately 500 acres to build the first AI data center in northeast Wisconsin, directly across from Ledgestone Vineyards. Nearly 100 residents attended a 'Stop the Data Center' meeting, launching petitions and appeals. Cloverleaf withdrew on Jan. 13, 2026 after speaking with village officials, citing lack of local support.
Izaak Walton League (Brown County Chapter)

Madison Common Council passed a one-year moratorium on Jan 13, 2026 on new data centers and telecom centers larger than 10,000 sq ft. Separately, QTS formally withdrew its $12B data center proposal from the Village of DeForest on Jan 28, 2026 after the village determined the project was not feasible and announced its intention to deny the annexation of 1,600 acres from the Town of Vienna. The project involves the QTS Data Centers proposal, 1080 MW capacity, 1,600 acres.

Birmingham City Council unanimously approved a 180-day moratorium on applications for new or expanding hyperscale data centers on March 3, 2026. Facilities under 20 megawatts are exempt. Two existing projects (Nebius Oxmoor AI Factory at 300MW and one other) that filed before the vote are exempt. The moratorium gives the city time to develop comprehensive zoning and land use regulations for large-scale data center facilities. Nebius submitted its building permit on Jan. 29, weeks before the vote, and is not affected. The project involves 80 acres.
GASP (Greater Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution)
GASP (Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution)

Harvey County Commission unanimously approved a moratorium on data center construction in unincorporated areas through the end of 2028 (roughly three years). Commissioner Don Schroeder explained the moratorium gives the planning department and zoning board time to research and design regulations, as the county currently has no zoning rules for data centers, crypto mining, or related facilities. Concerns centered on water use from the Equus Beds Aquifer. Nearby Andale and Colwich residents pushed back against proposed projects, citing the importance of preserving their farming and ranching community character.

SB 886 / SB 887 - Ratepayer Protection & ELDP Data Center Certification
California introduced several data center bills in 2026: SB 886 requires the PUC to establish a special tariff to protect ratepayers from data center transmission costs. SB 887 allows data centers to be eligible for Environmental Leadership Development Project streamlining if they are net-zero water. SB 1014 gives local governments authority to regulate data center noise and emissions. These bills represent California's comprehensive approach to data center regulation.

Saginaw City Council unanimously approved a resolution enacting a 6-month blanket prohibition of data centers on January 13, 2026. Council members aim to finalize a comprehensive data center policy within that timeframe to ensure responsible development that benefits the community long term. Opposition was led by Michiganders Against Data Centers. A petition gathered 11,077 signatures. Key concerns driving this action include zoning concerns. The outcome remains pending.

South Carolina HB 4583, the South Carolina Data Center Responsibility Act (bipartisan: Reps. Cromer, Gilreath, Oremus, Chumley, White, Reese, Lawson, Atkinson), introduced January 13, 2026, mandates closed-loop cooling systems requiring zero net water withdrawal and net zero wastewater discharge, and prohibits data centers from extracting groundwater or using municipal water for cooling. As of early 2026, the bill remains in the House. Companion bills include S 867 (data center development), H 902 (data centers), and H 724 (commercial data center water usage report). Part of a broader SC legislative push as the state hosts billions in Google data center investment.

Maryland HB 120 (Dels. Fisher, Chisholm, Morgan, Szeliga - all R) would prohibit any person or government unit from constructing or approving construction of a data center until the General Assembly enacts companion co-location legislation tying data centers to new or existing power generation (natural gas, nuclear, or SMRs). Scheduled for committee hearing in early February 2026. Maryland has no cohesive statewide policy; January 2026 reporting indicates additional proposals for PSC operating certificate requirements for large data centers. The Department of Environment, Maryland Energy Administration, and University of Maryland School of Business will produce a data center impact study by September 1, 2026 (climate study bill became law via veto override). HB 560 (separate, Del. Palakovich Karr D) would repeal data center sales/use and property tax exemptions.

Steinborn Microgrid Regulation Bill
Project Jupiter (Dona Ana County data center development)
SB 235 (Microgrid Oversight Act) would have required the Public Regulation Commission to develop rules for any microgrid producing more than 20 MW, granted regulators oversight over approval and operation of microgrids, and required proof of ability to meet state renewable energy standards for microgrids coming online after May 2026. The bill passed the New Mexico Senate 22-20 but did not advance in the House before the session ended, effectively dying. The bill was motivated by concerns about data center 'microgrids' circumventing the state's Energy Transition Act requirements, particularly regarding Project Jupiter in Dona Ana County.

Armada Township enacted a 180-day moratorium on data center development starting January 14, 2026. The moratorium gives the township time to review zoning, infrastructure capacity, and land use impacts before any data center applications can proceed. Opposition was led by Michiganders Against Data Centers and Stop Washington Township Data Center. A petition gathered 11,077 signatures. The outcome remains pending.

Wallace Jackson DC Campus
Despite vocal opposition from dozens of residents, Spalding County Commissioners unanimously approved a $3.9 billion, 5 million sq ft data center complex by Wallace Jackson LLC spanning 190 acres along Interstate 75, consisting of ten separate buildings (roughly three times the size of Lenox Square Mall). The vote took place on January 22, 2026. Officials claimed the project will lower resident tax burdens without leaving taxpayers responsible for development costs. Residents objected to the plan citing environmental pollution concerns and loss of generational agricultural land. Full build-out could be reached by 2035.

Project Mustang
Project Mustang is a planned data center site in the Claremore (OK) Industrial Park. As of early 2026, the project remains in early talks. City leaders have promised it will not raise utility rates, but residents are demanding more transparency regarding the 'mystery' tenant. Claremore is one of several Oklahoma data center battles, alongside Sand Springs Project Spring (Google), Yukon Gamma Resources (stalled by zoning hearing deferrals), and Luther Beltline Energy. Oklahoma HB 2992 (Boles) passed the House 92-2 in March 2026 to protect ratepayers from data center cost-shifting; awaits Senate action.

Project Spring
Conservation nonprofit Land Legacy filed a lawsuit on March 24, 2026 in Osage County District Court against the Ringle family, arguing a 2013 conservation easement covering 270 acres of the 827-acre Google "Project Spring" data center site prohibits industrial development. The Ringle family received a $3.8 million tax break for the original easement. The lawsuit alleges the family concealed the easement from the city during annexation and rezoning, and claims all municipal actions are void. Separately, the Protect Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Alliance is collecting signatures to recall the entire City Council (6-1 vote approved rezoning in February). The alliance has roughly 50% of the ~5,000 signatures needed across six wards, with a March 31 deadline.

Sedgwick County Commissioners unanimously voted on March 4, 2026 to extend the moratorium on data center permit applications to June 11, 2026. Two companies — Monarch Energy (San Diego) and NextEra Energy (Florida) — are trying to acquire more than 1,000 acres in western Sedgwick County for data centers. Monarch signed purchase agreements for 300+ acres with two landowners, while NextEra (the largest US electricity company) announced a deal with Google for hyperscale data centers. Hundreds of residents packed a town hall on March 13 at WSU, and the county hosted another public forum on March 31 at K-State Research and Extension to discuss zoning protocols. The Metropolitan Area Planning Department is researching regulations from other communities and drafting new policies. Residents expressed alarm at ongoing site activity despite the moratorium, with one noting 'It doesn't feel paused.' The county's zoning code currently lacks formal data center rules.
Renwick Area Against Data Centers in West Sedgwick County

Change.org petition with 5,856 signatures voicing concerns about a proposed data center on Robertsville Road in Villa Ridge, near Shaw Nature Reserve. The land (613 acres total) is owned by Diamond 66 LLC and Diamond Farms LLC; L.B. Eckelkamp Jr., CEO of Bank of Washington, requested Franklin County rezone the parcels. Franklin County is under a drought alert. After hours of public comment, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to table the discussion for six months. The petition was started by Amanda Brown and targets Governor Kehoe.
Shaw Nature Reserve / Missouri Botanical Garden

Yukon (OK) faces opposition to a Gamma Resources data center proposal near I-40. As of early 2026, the project is currently STALLED — zoning hearings have been deferred TWICE due to local outcry. Part of Oklahoma's broader data center boom alongside Sand Springs (Project Spring/Google), Claremore (Project Mustang), and Luther (Beltline Energy). Statewide context: Oklahoma HB 2992 passed the House 92-2 in March 2026 to protect ratepayers; companion bills also moving.

HB 76
Utah: Data Center Water Transparency Amendments. Requires data centers (10,000+ sq ft) to notify Division of Water Quality, Division of Water Rights, and water providers of intent to construct. Must report projected water usage, discharge types, treatment methods, and conservation efforts. Passed House 72-0, now in Senate.

Amazon Data Services is building a $750M data center on a 99-acre former Milwaukee Tool site in the Clinton, Mississippi, Industrial Park, in what officials call the largest economic development project in Clinton and Hinds County history. The Clinton Board of Aldermen and Hinds County Board of Supervisors both approved FILOT agreements on January 15, 2026, with the property assessed at 15% of true value — generating roughly $37M/year in payments split between the city, county, and Clinton Public School District. The project is expected to create about 50 permanent jobs.
Clinton Residents Concerned About Data Centers

Google uses a third of The Dalles, Oregon,' water (~1M gallons/day) (37 acres). City lobbying for HR 655 to transfer ~150 acres of Mt. Hood National Forest to triple reservoir capacity (~$70M project). Google holds groundwater rights for up to 3.88M gallons/day. Conservation coalition called it a 'cynical sweetheart deal.' Google pays $7.3M/year in property taxes after 92% discount.

Nebraska LB 1111 passed the Legislature and became law, driven by concerns over Meta's $2.5 billion, 160MW data center on 900 acres. The law requires data centers to pay the full cost of new electricity infrastructure, requires public power suppliers to publicly disclose project details (name, developers, owners, location, size, electricity demand), and allows public power suppliers to impose restrictions including operational/decommissioning plans, security bonds, and community benefit agreements.

Kansas City Data Center Zoning Restrictions (citywide response to multiple projects)
Kansas City, Missouri, Council unanimously approved zoning changes reclassifying data centers as industrial facilities, limiting them to specific zoning districts, revoking by-right status for larger data centers, and requiring City Council approval and will-serve letters from water and electric utilities. Opposition was led by KC Data Center Watchdog and Stop the AI Data Center in Independence. A petition gathered 142 signatures. Key concerns driving this action include energy grid strain. The outcome of these regulatory changes remains pending.

Multiple Georgia data center moratorium bills introduced in 2026 session. HB 1012 (Rep. Ruwa Romman) would bar counties and cities from issuing permits for new data centers until March 1, 2027, with exceptions for approvals issued before July 1, 2026. HB 1059 (Rep. Derrick Jackson) would establish a moratorium from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028, and create a 14-member Data Center Impact Commission to conduct a three-year study with a final report due October 1, 2029. At least eight Georgia towns and counties have already passed local moratoriums. Industry opposition has been fierce, with a key bill stalling after a last-minute amendment found bipartisan support. HB 1012 stalled in the House Governmental Affairs Committee and did not cross over by the March 6 deadline, effectively killing it for the 2026 session. The moratorium provisions were not included in SB 410 which did pass.
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE)

Project Atlas
In Coweta, Oklahoma, Beale Infrastructure's $800M Project Atlas proposed 295 acres for an Amazon/AWS data center with 400MW capacity. The Planning Commission voted 4-1 to deny rezoning on January 19, 2026, but the proposal advanced to city council. The developer reduced the project scope to 60 acres and promised a 150-foot buffer. Opposition started a recall petition targeting city council members. Blue Owl Capital, the major backer of Beale Infrastructure, is facing financial turmoil that could derail the project. On March 30, 2026, Beale Infrastructure withdrew its Project Atlas application entirely, ending plans for the facility. The company did not provide a reason, but the withdrawal followed weeks of public opposition, the 4-1 planning commission denial, resident demands for the city manager to be fired, discovery of fraudulent pro-data-center emails sent to council members, and financial turmoil at Beale's backer Blue Owl Capital.
Say NO to Coweta, Ok Data Center (Atlas Project)

Village of Godfrey, Illinois, unanimously approved a 180-day moratorium on data center construction applications on January 20, 2026, after Cloverleaf Infrastructure proposed a 500MW data center on 275 acres. Trustee Rick Lauschke: "We don't know enough." The moratorium followed weeks of protests across Madison County voicing concerns about data centers in Troy, Granite City, and Godfrey.

Georgia HB 1059 (Rep. Derrick Jackson D-Tyrone) would have established a moratorium on new data center construction from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, plus a 14-member Data Center Impact Commission. The bill failed to advance during the 2026 legislative session, which ended in early April with Georgia lawmakers passing NO data center bills despite months of debate. The General Assembly left intact ~$2.5B/year in data center tax breaks even after a state report estimated Georgia would miss out on $2.5B in tax revenue in 2026. With no statewide restrictions, county commissions and planning boards remain the front line of defense, and Democrats are reportedly viewing the failure as an electoral gift heading into November 2026.

CDE Acquisitions proposes consolidating several lots into a 410-acre site for a six-building, 5.1 million sq ft data center campus on North Cedar Crest Blvd, directly across from Parkland High School in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, (proposed by CDE Acquisitions LLC). LVPC planners raised concerns about extensive karst formations (sinkholes) throughout the site, along with noise, emissions, power grid strain, and water supply impacts. All residents who spoke at the LVPC meeting objected to the project. The South Whitehall Planning Commission cancelled its February meeting to allow the applicant to address a 101-page staff review.

Saturn Park Data Center
Monterey Park, California, City Council unanimously adopted a 45-day moratorium on data center development on January 21, 2026, prompted by a proposed 250,000 sq ft data center at Saturn Park (proposed by HMC Capital) (15.8 acres). On March 4, 2026, the Council unanimously approved placing a measure on the June 2, 2026 ballot to permanently ban data centers citywide, and extended the existing moratorium through January 21, 2027. An ordinance permanently banning data centers is also expected to be considered by the Council in April 2026.

Karis Data Center (Nokia/Lucent Campus)
Naperville, Illinois, City Council voted 6-1 to deny Karis Critical's proposal for a 211,000 sq ft data center on the former Nokia/Lucent campus (36 MW, $250M, 40 acres). A Change.org petition gathered 5,000+ signatures. Originally proposed as two data centers, the developer reduced to one after community opposition. Located near residential areas, Danada Forest Preserve, and a sensory playground for children with disabilities.

In City of Pontiac, Michigan, Pontiac City Council unanimously passed a six-month moratorium on the consideration of data centers 'pending further study and enactment of city regulation,' prompted by Concord Infrastructure Partners' proposed 100MW, $285 million facility. The resolution cited existing zoning insufficiency to prevent data centers' potential effects on public health, utilities, and infrastructure. City officials will review potential issues and propose a zoning ordinance during the moratorium period, which may be extended.

Grand Blanc Township Board of Trustees passed a one-year moratorium on data center development on January 21, 2026, rejecting all applications until the period expires unless shortened or extended by the board. The township attorney cited concerns over energy and water use as reasons for the pause. Grand Blanc joins the growing list of at least 27 Michigan communities that have enacted data center moratoria while developing appropriate zoning regulations to address the technology's unprecedented infrastructure demands.

The Pontiac (MI) City Council unanimously passed a 6-month data center moratorium on January 21, 2026, 'pending further study and enactment of city regulation.' The resolution states existing zoning wouldn't sufficiently prevent potential effects on public health, utilities, and infrastructure. Officials are using the 6 months to review potential issues and propose a zoning ordinance; the moratorium may be extended. Pontiac is one of at least 27 Michigan communities to enact data center moratoria as the state legislature debates a statewide pause.
Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan (EDRA of MI)

Sylvan Township (near Chelsea, Washtenaw County) enacted a 6-month moratorium on data centers on January 22, 2026. Supervisor Amanda Nimke stated: 'We clearly can't stop them, but we can control them in a way that they're not going to be proposed in an area that will undermine a community.' Opposition was led by Michiganders Against Data Centers. A petition gathered 11,077 signatures. Key concerns driving this action include zoning concerns. The outcome remains pending.

In Lisle, Illinois, Cloud Centers proposed a 256,000 sq ft, 50MW data center on the former Lockformer toxic-contaminated site (18 acres). Over 300 residents packed a public hearing, forcing postponement. 127 letters submitted, all in opposition. Concerns: diesel generators, noise, proximity to homes (<300 feet) and a grade school. Cloud Centers formally withdrew its application after over 300 residents packed a January hearing, forcing postponement when the crowd exceeded the 250-person board room capacity. 127 written submissions, all objected to. Managing partner said they "were not given a chance to present."
Lisle Residents Against Data Center (ad hoc)

Meta expanded its El Paso data center investment from $1.5B to $10B (1GW capacity). El Paso Electric filed with the PUC to build a $473M, 366MW natural gas power plant (813 small gas generators) exclusively for Meta for the first 5 years. The Sembrando Esperanza Coalition has called on the city, county, and utilities to terminate Meta contracts, arguing Meta's 'green' claims are deceptive since the facility would rely on natural gas. The city council voted to intervene in the PUC proceedings to represent community interests.

The Village of Romeo enacted a data center moratorium on January 26, 2026, joining the wave of Macomb County communities (including nearby Armada Township, Lenox Township, and Sterling Heights) in pausing data center development while drafting appropriate regulations. Opposition was led by Michiganders Against Data Centers. A petition gathered 11,077 signatures. Key concerns driving this action include environmental impacts and zoning concerns. The outcome remains pending.

In Illinois, Hundreds of residents packed a city council meeting to challenge a data center proposed on the Lutticken Farm along the Mahomet Aquifer, Which serves nearly 1 million people (320 acres). Opposition group has 2,200+ Facebook members. State bill SB 4004 would prohibit data centers from using Mahomet Aquifer groundwater. UPDATE: Pekin Mayor Mary Burress announced on March 9 that the city will not move forward with the proposed data center project. Her announcement was met with applause and cheers from opponents who had filled council chambers for months. The city is expected to vote March 23 to formally end its agreement with developer Western Hospitality Partners for the 321-acre site. Mayor Mary Burress announced on March 9 that the city will not move forward with the data center, met with applause and cheers. The Tazewell County Data Center Opposition Facebook group grew from 2,200 to 5,000+ members in two months.

Gov. Rhoden signed SB 135 and HB 1038 into law on March 25, 2026. SB 135 requires data centers with peak demand >10MW to ensure water use doesn't overburden local resources, pay for electrical infrastructure costs, and prohibits the state from overriding local ordinances on data centers. HB 1038 allows the Public Utilities Commission to assess data center companies the costs of regulatory reviews. Signed after legislature rejected tax incentive proposals.

Larimer County extended its temporary moratorium on data center facilities to August 25, 2026, following a public hearing on February 9, 2026. The pause allows staff time to develop land-use regulations addressing data center impacts. At the state level, SB 26-102 (Sen. Cathy Kipp D-Larimer County, Rep. Kyle Brown D-Boulder County) on large-load data centers had its Senate Transportation and Energy Committee vote delayed in March 2026 but supporters plan to bring it back. Colorado is debating competing legislative approaches between data center development incentives and environmental protections, with Xcel Energy moving in April 2026 to block data centers from sticking residential families with higher power bills.

Indiana HB 1333 passed the House on February 2, 2026 by a vote of 56-43 and was engrossed February 3. The bill mandates that data center users entering operations after June 30, 2026, must enter into written agreements with local units issuing permits, and requires data centers to pay at least 1% of their sales tax savings to local governments. The bill also allows developers to build data centers and solar farms on Class 4-8 farmland without zoning changes — a controversial provision opposed by farmland preservation advocates. Effective date July 1, 2026. Critics in the Hoosier Environmental Council warn the bill weakens local control. Other Indiana data center bills saw 'little action' in the 2026 session per WFYI.

Franklin-Simpson Data Storage and Service Center
In Simpson County, Kentucky, TenKey LandCo I LLC proposed a nearly $5 billion data center on approximately 200 acres near Exit 2 of I-65 at the southern end of Franklin. Plans include three 200,000 sq ft buildings ($1.6B per facility). A lawsuit hearing was held March 17, 2026, where the judge took motions under advisement. The next hearing is scheduled for April 13, 2026. The Franklin Planning and Zoning Commission approved a preliminary development plan in March 2026 after hours of heated public comment.
Franklin residents (Jasmine Butt petition organizer)

The New Orleans City Council voted unanimously 6-0 on January 28, 2026 to impose a one-year moratorium on construction of data centers, server farms, and cryptocurrency mining facilities — a ban council members say will likely become permanent. The moratorium effectively killed a proposal by MS Solar Grid Data for a 17-acre vacant lot near Interstate 10 and Read Boulevard in New Orleans East. The Planning Commission was directed to propose a zoning classification for data centers. As of late March 2026, the City Planning Commission deferred its recommendation to the City Council until late April 2026.
Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Commission
Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ)

Fayetteville's Planning & Zoning Commission denied Corvus Investment Group's request to rezone 240+ acres along Highway 85 North and Highway 314 to Business Park — a classification that allows data centers as a permitted use — and recommended Light Industrial zoning instead. The developer subsequently appealed to the City Council but withdrew the appeal on March 18, 2026. Fayetteville then adopted Ordinance 26-0-12, prohibiting new data centers in every city zoning district.

Project Bus
Atlas Development filed a Development of Regional Impact for 'Project Bus,' a 12-building data center campus on approximately 350 acres in Temple (northern Carroll County, Georgia,). The estimated $11 billion project would generate $42 million/year in ad valorem taxes and 275 jobs. The project requires rezoning, annexation, and sewer connections. Properties span Vaughn Road, Center Point Road, Terrell Road, and Mandeville Road, north and south of I-20, about 40 miles west of downtown Atlanta. After sustained community opposition, Atlas Development withdrew the rezoning application, and the project was cancelled.

Hunting Hawk Technology Center
In Hanover County, Virginia, HHHunt's proposed Hunting Hawk Technology Park — a 10-building, 400-acre data center campus near the Wyndham community capable of supporting up to 900 MW — was rejected by Hanover's Planning Commission on January 15, 2026 as not fitting the county's 'rural character.' Hundreds of residents from Hanover, Henrico, and Goochland counties attended community meetings, raising concerns about traffic, water use, noise, and environmental impacts. HHHunt withdrew its application on January 28, 2026. Just weeks later, developer Tract submitted a new 427-acre data center proposal along Route 33 and Mountain Road (requiring 900 MW and ~600,000 gallons/day of water), but the Planning Commission deferred that vote to March 19 for more information.
Wyndham Board of Directors Smart Development Task Force

Surge Development LLC / GM Development LLC
Henry County, Indiana, Commissioners voted 2-1 on January 28, 2026 to approve a Planned Unit Development for a proposed data center on 585 acres of agricultural land near Knightstown at the intersection of State Road 109 and I-70, despite over 80% of constituents who contacted commissioners voicing concerns about the project. Surge Development LLC and GM Development LLC are behind the proposal. Commissioner Susan Huhn cast the lone no vote. The opposition group No Henry County Data Center organized significant resistance, citing loss of farmland, water impacts, and threats to rural character. Three proposed 20-acre data centers would use valuable farm land and water.

Brennan Investment Group withdrew its $2 billion data center proposal for land south of Penny Road and west of Pond Gate Drive in Barrington Hills, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago (110 acres). The withdrawal came 'based on initial feedback' before a scheduled Feb. 2 plan commission meeting. A Change.org petition voicing concerns about the project had garnered 1,303 signatures citing concerns about air pollution, water quality, and tax impacts. The village considers the matter closed and canceled the Feb. 2 meeting.
Barrington Hills residents (Change.org petition organizers)

Sangamon County Board voted 17-10 on April 7, 2026 to approve CyrusOne's $500M data center on 280 acres of farmland near Waverly, ~14 miles southwest of Springfield, despite hundreds of opponents packing the meeting. The 636 MW, 1.4 million sq ft complex will be one of the largest in Illinois. Community opposition cited loss of prime agricultural land, water and energy impacts, and minimal local job creation. The moratorium proposal was previously defeated, and the zoning board had recommended approval.

RGV Data Center
Cameron County Commissioners' Court adopted a resolution on April 8, 2026 opposing 'any data center development that fails to incorporate adequate safeguards to protect natural resources and residents.' The resolution urges the state and regulatory agencies to report anticipated electricity demand, water usage, and infrastructure improvements prior to approval, and calls for independent impact assessments. However, County Judge Eddie Trevino acknowledged the county's authority is limited when businesses comply with existing permitting requirements.

Carroll County Board of Commissioners voted to draft a deferral ordinance placing a temporary moratorium on data center projects, despite no developers having applied. The preemptive action mirrors moratoria already adopted by Frederick, Prince George's, Baltimore, and Montgomery counties as data center opposition spreads across Maryland.

Unknown (multiple entities: Buck Canyon Properties LLC, High Table LLC, Energy Strike LLC, Hecate Energy)
A 1,300 MW data center is proposed for the sites of two former power plants in Adams County (1,016 acres). AES Ohio filed that the data center would start at 100 MW in 2028 and ramp up to 1,300 MW (1.3 GW) by March 2032, consuming 11.4 million megawatt hours annually -- 31 times Adams County's total electricity consumption. Residents packed a community meeting in Manchester. Alex Schaffer, a data center critic running for Adams County Commission, is organizing opposition. The Economic Development Director signed NDAs about the project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued Nationwide Permit No. 39 on February 18, 2026, for the data center project near the former Stuart power plant. The permit includes special conditions to protect endangered bats, mussels, and butterflies, and a 100-foot buffer zone around three cemeteries. Additionally, Adams County voters launched a petition campaign at West Union Walmart on March 9 calling for an Ohio constitutional amendment to ban data centers statewide.
Adams County Residents for Responsible Development

Champaign County Data Center
Thor Equities proposed a $1 billion, 500MW data center (Urbana Technology Hub) on 48+ acres in Champaign County, Ohio, near Urbana. On March 3, 2026, the Urbana City Council voted 6-1 to approve a 12-month moratorium on data centers over 10,000 sq ft, halting the project. Residents organized rapidly with 4,000+ online petition signatures within two weeks, citing threats to Cedar Bog Nature Preserve, noise, air quality, and water impacts. CyrusOne was also attached to the project. The moratorium takes effect immediately and gives the city time to study potential impacts.

Solstice Data Center Campus
A proposed 26MW Solstice data center campus in Allen Park, Michigan has been postponed after calls for greater scrutiny. A petition gathered 1,535+ signatures, protesters rallied outside city hall, and a second petition targets non-residents in surrounding Wayne County cities. Despite a Q&A session, opposition remains fierce.

Vienna Township in northeast Ohio is using a pause on data centers to develop lasting zoning changes rather than a temporary moratorium. Trustee Phil Pegg requested zoning to place a limit of 85 decibels at the property line, and if a data center uses more than 5 megawatts of power, they must produce anything in excess on site or an adjacent site. All water usage and discharge must meet Ohio EPA regulations.

Pacifico Energy's GW Ranch project in Pecos County, Texas, ~17 miles north of Fort Stockton, received TCEQ approval in early 2026 as the 'largest permitted data center campus' in the U.S. The 7.65 GW, 8,000+ acre facility was granted the largest air pollution permit in U.S. history (33 million tons/year GHG, approximately 5% of Canada's total emissions). On March 13, 2026, the U.S. Senate EPW Committee sent a letter to the Pacifico CEO questioning the project's environmental impacts.

Solon Township, Michigan, (Kent County) Board unanimously approved a 6-month moratorium on new data center proposals in early February 2026, extended from an initial 90-day proposal after hearing residents' concerns (proposed by The Right Place). Developers are exploring farmland west of US-131, between 16 and 17 Mile roads, as a potential data center site. The property is currently zoned agricultural/residential.

California-based Atmosphere Data Centers plans a $2 billion, 300MW data center complex on 170 acres at the site of a decommissioned coal-fired power plant in Dickerson, Maryland,. Atmosphere filed for water withdrawal and discharge permits from the Potomac River upstream from the WSSC water intake that serves millions in the DC metro area. The Sugarloaf Citizens Association and a coalition of 20+ environmental organizations are calling for a moratorium on data center approvals until the County Council approves regulations. County Executive Elrich said the developers 'have a right to go forward' in the planning process, though he has floated a six-month moratorium. The data center debate has fueled election-year tensions.

Would prohibit localities from granting final approvals for rezonings, special permits, and site plans for new data centers until existing grid interconnection requests are fulfilled or July 1, 2028. Introduced by Del. Irene Shin (D-Fairfax County). A House subcommittee voted to carry the bill over to the 2027 session, effectively killing it for 2026. Virginia's legislature considered over 60 data center-related bills this session.
Coalition to Protect Prince William County

Washington Township, in the Columbus metro area, passed a moratorium on data center development as part of the broader wave of Ohio municipalities pushing back against rapid data center growth. The township is one of approximately 18 Ohio municipalities that have considered or enacted moratoriums pausing construction and approval of data centers, driven by concerns about rising electricity prices and infrastructure strain in communities that are experiencing the state's data center boom.

Tennessee: Requires data center owners to pay full infrastructure costs (SB 2128), establishes data center impact reviews (SB 2653), addresses tariff structures (SB 1999), amends qualified data center tax provisions (SB 2584), and ties WARN Act/labor compliance to tax credits (HB 2047). Multiple bills pending in the 114th General Assembly, deferred to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee hearing March 10, 2026.

Arizona: HB 2756 protects retail electricity customers from data center grid connection costs. Additional bills HB 2795 (preempts counties from preventing SMR construction near data centers) also advanced. Several other proposals (HB 2452, HB 4009, HB 2457) were killed or failed. The outcome remains pending. The community's stated objective was to require data centers to fund grid upgrades via HB 2756.

Kentucky: Prohibits utilities from serving data centers with 100+ MW aggregate contract capacity unless the Public Service Commission approves a specific tariff with minimum requirements including contract durations, early termination fees, load ramp terms, and financial assurances. Key concerns driving this action include ratepayer cost concerns. The outcome remains pending.

In Citrus County, Florida, Deltona Corp proposed an 813-acre AI data center near CR 491 and Tram Road in Lecanto. The Planning & Development Commission voted 4-3 to postpone any decision. Nearly 200 residents packed meetings to challenge heavy industrial rezoning of the site. County commissioners are exploring new guidelines before any data center approvals.

Saugatuck Township in Allegan County placed a moratorium on data center development in February 2026, part of a wave of at least 27 Michigan communities enacting temporary pauses. The moratorium allows the planning commission to focus on finalizing zoning regulations for large-scale energy projects before any local permitting could begin. At the state level, bipartisan legislation was also introduced to halt new data center approvals statewide until April 2027.

In Illinois, SB 4004 would permanently ban data centers from using Mahomet Aquifer groundwater, The sole-source drinking water for ~1 million people across 14 counties. Also prohibits local governments from entering NDAs with data center companies and requires transparency in water usage. The outcome remains pending. The community's stated objective was to ban data center development NDAs in IL.

Dickerson Data Center Campus
Montgomery County, Maryland, enacted a moratorium on new data center development through the end of 2026, prompted by Atmosphere Data Centers' proposed 300MW complex on 170 acres in Dickerson. The zoning text amendment ZTA 26-01 is advancing through the process to make data centers a conditional use only in industrial zones, requiring 500-foot setbacks and other conditions. The Dickerson project is exempt from the moratorium. Public hearing held Feb. 24, 2026.

Baltimore County, Maryland, Council unanimously passed a moratorium temporarily freezing data center development through January 1, 2027, blocking permits until the Planning Board studies potential environmental and economic impacts. The action was prompted by Security Land and Development LP's proposal for a 150MW data center on 42 acres. The unanimous vote underscored bipartisan concern about unregulated data center growth in the county.

Meta (nearby Middleton Township project triggered area moratoriums)
Maumee City Council approved a 12-month moratorium on Feb. 2, 2026, joining the wave of northwest Ohio communities responding to Meta's $800M data center in nearby Middleton Township. Around 18 municipalities across the region have considered or enacted similar pauses. The Meta (nearby Middleton Township project triggered area moratoriums) project involves a 350 MW capacity, 280 acres. Opposition was led by Coalition Against Data Centers in South Ohio and AW-CRAP. A petition gathered 1,595 signatures.

The Ashville, Ohio, Village Council voted 4-2 to deny EdgeConneX's annexation request for a 490-acre parcel needed for a $10 billion, 680-acre, 1.8GW data center campus about 17 miles south of Columbus. EdgeConneX already owns the adjacent 200-acre parcel and planned 18 major structures including a 1.8GW substation. The village had previously passed a 180-day emergency moratorium on data centers on Dec. 20, 2025. Opposition was fierce since residents became aware of the project in November 2025. The company may still build on the smaller 200-acre site.

Lenox Township Board of Trustees adopted a 4-month moratorium on new data center development effective February 2, 2026, with the option for one additional 4-month extension. The moratorium gives the township time to review zoning, infrastructure capacity, utility demands, and land use impacts. The township emphasized that under Michigan law, municipalities cannot use zoning or moratoria to permanently block lawful development (exclusionary zoning).

In Hancock County, Kentucky, Change.org petition with 1,052 signatures voicing concerns about TeraWulf's data center at the former Century Aluminum smelter site in Hawesville. TeraWulf (via Justified DataPower LLC) purchased the 750-acre site for $200 million and plans to invest $3-4 billion to build a 'clean digital infrastructure' campus with 480 MW of existing power availability. Phase 1 targeted for late 2027. The Kentucky Conservation Committee (led by Lane Boldman) has voiced opposition, calling it a 'missed opportunity for clean aluminum manufacturing.' Kentucky House Bill 544 (Ratepayer Protection Act) was proposed in response. Community concerns include electricity rate increases and limited permanent employment (~100 jobs).

In City of Mason, Michigan, Mason City Council reviewed a referendum petition with 700+ signatures seeking to repeal Ordinance 266 (M-3 Technology Innovation zoning district) passed Feb. 2. Residents say the ordinance is 'dangerously inadequate' and doesn't sufficiently address lithium battery usage and noise concerns. The council is waiting on a legal opinion before deciding whether to repeal the ordinance or put it to voters. Mayor blamed 'outsiders' for the pushback, fueling further controversy.

In the Village of DeForest, Wisconsin, QTS Data Centers proposed a $12B project involving five data center buildings on nearly 1,600 acres of farmland in the Town of Vienna. The 'No Data Center in DeForest' group mobilized rapidly, gaining 4,000+ Facebook followers in a village of 10,000. They printed yard signs, created an online community, and voiced opposition at numerous town and village board meetings. The DeForest Village Board voted unanimously on Feb. 3, 2026 to reject the annexation. QTS formally withdrew its application.

Gemstone Technology Park
In Kuna, Idaho, Diode Ventures' Gemstone Technology Park received a 3-2 approval (Mayor breaking tie) to rezone 620 acres for a $1 billion data center requiring 600-800MW of power, equal to about 20% of Idaho Power's current generation capacity. Layne Thornton and Toledo Dairy filed a petition for judicial review against the city, citing traffic impacts on narrow Locust Grove Rd, power and water usage, and precedent for future farmland conversion. The Murray family warned that allowing industrial development 'sets a precedent, and soon the surrounding farmland follows.' Diode Ventures hopes to break ground in 2026 but acknowledged the timeline might be optimistic.

The Sterling Heights City Council unanimously voted to impose a one-year moratorium on any new data centers proposed in the city. Officials noted that the city's zoning restrictions, written in 1978, do not reflect modern computing infrastructure. The pause allows the planning and legal departments to study and develop new zoning regulations. Sterling Heights is part of a broader wave across southeast Michigan, where at least 27 communities now have active data center moratoria.

Lodi Township (Washtenaw County) enacted a 180-day moratorium on data center development on February 3, 2026, joining a sweeping wave of at least 27 Michigan communities now pausing data center proposals while drafting local zoning rules. The township is near other Washtenaw County communities voicing concerns about data centers, including Saline, Pittsfield Township, and York Township. Residents across the region have raised concerns that data centers' massive water and energy demands could spike ratepayer costs and jeopardize the state's climate goals.

1778 Rich Pike LLC / Quantm Group plans 'Project Gouldsboro,' a $14.25 billion, 35-building, 1.5GW data center campus across Clifton and Covington townships on nearly 1,000 acres. Clifton Township supervisors approved a settlement with the developer in January 2026, but County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark Powell vacated the settlement on January 30, 2026, ruling it had excluded the township's zoning hearing board. Covington Township supervisors voted to add data centers to its zoning, hearing extensive resident concerns about water resource impacts. A Change.org petition with 180+ signatures demands a statewide data center moratorium. Residents fear the project will negatively impact water resources across Northeast Pennsylvania.

Project Washington
In New Castle County, Delaware, Starwood Digital Ventures proposed 'Project Washington,' a $10 billion, 1.2GW datacenter on 580 acres near Delaware City. The facility would consume as much power as approximately 1 million homes, nearly twice all housing units in Delaware. Consumer advocates predict power bills could rise $70/month. Delaware's DNREC denied the Coastal Zone permit, ruling the project is 'heavy industry not compatible with the Coastal Zone.' Starwood is appealing. Dozens of residents pushed back at a tense town hall.
DE-CLEAR (Delaware Data Center Coalition for Local, Environmental, and Accountable Regulation)

White Oak / Pumpkin Center
Trammell Crow Company (White Oak), Pumpkin Technology Campus developer (unnamed)
Harlem resident Gregory P. Guido Jr. filed two judicial review petitions in Columbia County Superior Court challenging the Board of Commissioners' approval of data center rezoning for projects totaling an estimated $11.6 billion across 1,945 acres. The first case targets the White Oak Business Park project by Trammell Crow Company; the second targets the Pumpkin Technology Campus. Petitions allege: commissioners approved rezonings without verified water or sewer capacity analysis, relied on an outdated June 2025 traffic study, and failed to provide meaningful notice to the School District. Cases were filed under Georgia's new judicial review code which places burden of proof on the petitioner. Commissioners had earlier rejected a third data center proposal (Appling-Harlem Road) in a 3-2 vote.
Citizens for Open Governance, Columbia County Georgia

Mt. Orab Mega Site
DB STU LLC (identity undisclosed; represented by Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP)
In Mt. Orab, Ohio, Village Councilman Eric Lang introduced two ordinances for a 180-day data center moratorium amid community outcry over a mysterious 1,000-acre 'mega site' project requesting up to 2,000 MW. A Facebook group grew to 1,700+ members and nearly 1,000 residents signed a petition. Council members had signed NDAs about the project.
Mt. Orab Residents for Responsible Development

American Tower Corporation withdrew its rezoning petition for a proposed 20,000-square-foot data center near W. 79th Street and Township Line Road in Pike Township, Indianapolis, after sustained pushback from the community. The withdrawal has been confirmed as final. The project involves a 4 MW capacity, 20,000 square feet of building space. Opposition was led by Pike Township residents and Indianapolis environmental groups.

Connecticut SB245, 'An Act Eliminating Certain Tax Incentives For Data Centers,' would revoke the state's data center tax incentive program established in 2021, which allows DECD to enter into 20- or 30-year agreements providing sales, use, and property tax exemptions. The bill is part of a national trend, with more than 300 data center bills filed across 30+ states in the first six weeks of 2026 alone. It received a favorable change of reference to the Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding.

SB 232 would have imposed a one-year moratorium on construction or expansion of hyperscale data centers in South Dakota. The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 5-3 to table the bill on February 18, 2026, with opponents arguing statewide moratoriums improperly limit local government authority. Instead, the legislature passed SB 135, which prohibits the state from limiting local governments' authority to regulate or ban data centers, shifting regulatory power to municipalities and counties.

South Carolina (Data Center Development Act)
South Carolina S. 867, the 'Data Center Development Act', introduced January 29, 2026, is sponsored by Sens. Tom Davis (R-Beaufort, primary sponsor), Kimbrell, Garrett, Sutton, Walker, Blackmon, Turner, Zell, Kennedy, and Devine. The bill requires a state permit before a new data center can operate, and regulates permitted data centers on locations, water usage, infrastructure costs, and financial assurances. Sen. Davis described it as a 'middle ground' approach. Separately, H4583, the 'South Carolina Data Center Responsibility Act', is sponsored by Reps. April Cromer (R-Anderson), Gilreath, Oremus, Chumley, White, Reese, and Atkinson. Additional related bills include S. 724 (commercial data center water usage reporting) and S. 3401 (technology transparency). A gigawatt-scale data center proposal in the Lowcountry drew significant opposition from local residents and a bipartisan group of legislators representing Colleton County.
South Carolina Emerging Technologies Association (supportive)

Landowners Miles Crosby and Jennifer Singleton sued Colleton County, South Carolina, challenging a new zoning ordinance allowing 'special exception' approval for data centers in rural areas. EagleRock Partners applied under the new rule to build a $6 billion, 859-acre, 1,000MW data center complex near the ACE Basin, one of the largest protected coastal ecosystems on the East Coast. Seven state legislators from both parties signed a bipartisan proclamation voicing concerns about the project. Southern Environmental Law Center is representing the plaintiffs.

Alabama Senate Bill 270 (Alabama Affordability Protection Act), sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, requires the Public Service Commission to review contracts between utilities and data centers using 150+ MW to ensure costs are not passed to residential ratepayers. Requires data centers to pay full cost of grid infrastructure upgrades. Passed unanimously by both chambers (Senate 30-0, House 104-0). Governor Kay Ivey signed SB 270 into law on April 10, 2026.

Muhlenberg Data Center
Muhlenberg Township, Ohio, (Pickaway County, near Circleville) passed a 12-month moratorium on new data centers after a petition gathered 700+ signatures (proposed by Pacifico Energy) (120 MW, 49 acres). Key concerns include proximity to schools, potential for private wells to dry up, and impacts on the rural residential character of the township. Darbyville is within Muhlenberg Township. The resolution (2026-10) expires February 3, 2027.
Muhlenberg TWP and Community Against Data Center and/or Power Distribution Build

In New York State, New York, New York S.9144 (Senate, Sen. Liz Krueger, Co-prime sponsor Sen. Kristen Gonzalez) / A.10141 (Assembly, Asm. Anna Kelles), introduced February 6, 2026, would impose a moratorium of at least 3 years and 90 days on permits for new data centers designed to use 20+ MW. During the moratorium, the DEC must issue a generic environmental impact statement covering energy, water, air quality, GHG emissions, and e-waste; the PSC must assess rate impacts and protect residential customers from cost increases. Would not affect the public Empire AI research initiative in Buffalo. Described as the 'strongest-in-the-nation' data center moratorium. Additionally, S.6394 (the NY Sustainable Data Centers Act) requires data centers to source 1/3 renewable energy by 2030, 2/3 by 2035, and 100% by 2040. S.8540 (the AC/DC Act) addresses rate classification and cost responsibility for data center operators. Over 100 community, environmental, and faith organizations called for passage of S.9144/A.10141 in a March 2026 letter to Gov. Hochul.

POWER Act (SB4016) + Tax Pause
Illinois: The POWER Act (SB 4016/HB 5513) establishes comprehensive statewide standards for data center development including clean energy procurement requirements, utility cost responsibility, water use reporting, pollution controls, and community engagement. Requires data centers to submit clean energy supply plans and establishes new rate tariffs for hyperscale data centers. Governor Pritzker separately announced a two-year suspension of state tax incentives for new data center developments effective July 1, 2026. Data Center Coalition called the bill potentially harmful to the market. Competing Republican package led by Sen. Chapin Rose includes SB 4004 (permanent Mahomet Aquifer groundwater ban for data centers). Gov. Pritzker announced a two-year suspension of state tax incentives for new data centers effective July 1, requiring General Assembly approval. Industry coalition calls the POWER Act 'market-closing.'
Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC)

Ridgeline Facility
In Tucker County, West Virginia, Fundamental Data, a Virginia-based company, applied for an air permit for the 'Ridgeline Facility' — a natural gas power plant and data center campus between Thomas and Davis that could span 10,000 acres across Tucker and Grant counties (1.7GW). The West Virginia DEP issued an air quality permit authorizing construction of a 785MW natural-gas-fired power plant with diesel backup generators. In February 2026, the West Virginia Air Quality Board upheld the air permit, denying appeals from Tucker United, the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, and the Sierra Club. The board sided with developers despite two days of testimony from citizen groups. Opposition groups argue the project threatens the area's tourism-based economy and rural character. A state law passed in 2025 stripped local authority over data center siting.

HB 609 / HB 756 (Mickelsen Rate Protection Bill)
Bipartisan bill HB 609 would limit sales tax exemptions to data center-specific equipment (excluding construction materials), sunset the exemption in 2036, and require data centers built after March 2026 to pay power rates that fully cover utility costs (proposed by Meta / Diode Ventures). Rep. Mickelsen separately introduced a bill to prevent the Idaho PUC from approving any new customer requiring 20+ MW without proving it would not raise rates for other customers. Multiple bills addressing tax breaks, water usage reporting, and rate protection.

Cassville Data Center
Undisclosed ('one of the big five or six')
An unnamed major tech company (described as one 'people will recognize') is seeking 400-500 acres in Cassville, Wisconsin, for a $1-2B data center that would employ about 50 people. The Grant County Economic Development Corp. projects $5.6 million in annual property tax revenue, with no tax incentives required. The 'No Data Centers in the Driftless' grassroots campaign has 2,700+ Facebook members voicing concerns about the project, citing threats to the region's scenic landscape, tourism economy, and water resources. In March 2026, Cassville town residents voted 54-3 to authorize 'village powers,' giving the township more zoning control specifically to address data center proposals. A community information event in Potosi drew over 500 people. Grant County competes with sites in Indiana and North Dakota; a decision on whether the developer chooses Grant County is expected in April 2026.

Requires electric utilities and new data centers (100+ MWH peak annual demand) to agree on contract terms that shield other power customers from construction and operation costs. Includes minimum billing requirements, performance/credit provisions, and termination protections. Passed Georgia House 159-5, now in Senate.

Georgia SB436 suspends new sales and use tax exemptions for data centers from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, and prohibits local governments from entering into nondisclosure agreements related to data center water and electricity usage. The bill is part of a wave of Georgia data center legislation in 2026 — the Senate also passed SB410 to outright end tax exemptions, while the House passed HB1063 (159-5) requiring data centers to pay down payments and sign longer contracts covering infrastructure costs.

Montour County, Pennsylvania, commissioners unanimously denied Talen Energy's request to rezone 800+ acres from agricultural to industrial to allow a co-located data center near the Montour Preserve nature area. The data center was expected to serve Amazon. Commission chair Rebecca Dressler said 'No evidence was provided demonstrating that the benefits outweigh documented and foreseeable public harms.' Concerned Citizens of Montour County grew from 4 members to hundreds in months; a petition gathered about 3,000 signatures, roughly twice the population of the relevant township. The rezoning denial stands. Montour County commissioners unanimously denied Talen Energy's request to rezone 800+ acres from agricultural to industrial for a data center near the Montour Preserve. Talen Energy said it still plans to develop a project and will refine plans. The grassroots group Concerned Citizens of Montour County grew from 4 members to hundreds of supporters.

Comanche Circle
Hood County (40 miles SW of Fort Worth) has received at least five data center applications (proposed by Sailfish Development). Commissioners voted down a proposed moratorium 3-2, twice, despite 8 hours of public testimony. The 2,100-acre Comanche Circle project sits in a recharge zone for the Upper Trinity Aquifer and could use 1M gallons/day. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt sent a letter to AG Paxton warning that counties lack constitutional authority to impose moratoriums, chilling local opposition. Residents are still adjusting to a nearby bitcoin mining operation in Granbury where neighbors report constant noise affecting people, pets, and wildlife. Hood County commissioners rejected the moratorium a second time on Feb 25, 2026, in a 3-2 vote. Instead, they voted to seek an opinion from TX Attorney General Ken Paxton on whether counties have authority to enact development moratoriums. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt warned counties lack constitutional authority for moratoriums. Residents called for commissioner resignations after the second block.

Independence City Council approved $6.26 billion in tax breaks over 20 years for Nebius on March 2, 2026, including a 98% real property tax abatement, 90% personal property tax abatement, and $150M in revenue bonds for a 500-acre hyperscale AI data center campus (up to 4GW). Residents organized fierce opposition but were outnumbered at the 3-2 council vote. A lawsuit to force a public vote was filed March 12, but on March 25, a Jackson County judge ruled against residents, holding the ordinance took effect immediately under the city charter. However, on April 8, 2026, voters exacted electoral accountability: two of the five council members who voted for the tax breaks — Bridget McCandless and Jared Fears — were ousted at the ballot box. Anti-data-center candidates Jackie Dorman and pro-accountability candidate Cody Atkinson won seats.

In City of Oregon, Ohio, Oregon City Council initially voted 3-2 with one abstention against granting Capacity LLC a six-month extension for a proposed $2 billion, 500MW data center on 170 acres near Corduroy and Wynn roads. However, the city law director later ruled that under Robert's Rules of Order, the abstention didn't count as a vote, meaning the ordinance actually passed 3-2. The situation remains contentious and legally uncertain.

Hayes Township, Michigan, (Charlevoix County) Board of Trustees unanimously enacted a 180-day moratorium on data centers on February 10, 2026, despite no current data center proposals. After a full hour of public comment in person and over Zoom, the board struck exemption clauses that the public identified as possible loopholes. The board is drafting data center regulations for future zoning codes.

In City of South Lyon, Michigan, South Lyon City Council adopted a 12-month moratorium on new data center applications on February 10, 2026, extending it beyond the original proposal of six months to match Northville's recent pause. The moratorium was prompted by concerns about the nearby Verrus data center proposal in Lyon Township, which would use approximately 9 million gallons of water annually from the municipal system and include large lithium-ion battery packs raising fire safety fears. Mayor Stephen Kennedy said the measure gives the city authority to dictate allowable data center parameters.

Erie Township (Monroe County) enacted a limited moratorium on data center development on February 10, 2026, joining nearby Dundee Township which has had a moratorium since October 2025 in response to Cloverleaf's proposed 350-acre 'Project Ironwood.' Both townships are part of a sweeping wave across Michigan — at least 27 communities now have active data center moratoria while drafting local zoning rules to address concerns about water consumption, energy demand, and impacts on the electric grid. The project involves Cloverleaf Infrastructure.

Virginia: Would shift energy infrastructure costs from residential ratepayers to data centers served by Dominion Energy. The SCC estimated residential rates would drop 3.4% (~$5.52/month) while data center rates would increase 15.8%. Dominion supports the bill. Passed nearly unanimously in the Senate. Would save local governments an estimated $8.3M in 2027. The House passed the bill 66-32 on March 3, but the Senate rejected the House substitute 0-39 on March 5, sending it to conference.

Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Commission passed (4-1) the "Holding Data Center Projects Accountable" resolution on Feb 11, 2026, requiring data centers seeking county incentives to operate on 100% renewable energy, fully offset water use, and negotiate workforce standards (proposed by Oracle). Not a moratorium but a conditions/guardrails framework for incentives.

Unknown (inquiries from out-of-town companies for paper mill site)
In Town of Canton, North Carolina, Canton Board of Aldermen approved a 12-month moratorium on data center construction, cryptocurrency mining, and server farms after about 50 residents voiced concerns at a public hearing. Prompted by out-of-town companies inquiring about using the site of the town's decommissioned paper mill. No concrete plans exist yet. Residents spoke to the economic hardship after mill closure and skepticism that data centers would replace those jobs, noting facilities may employ only ~100 people permanently.

WA Data Center Regulation
Washington HB 2515, the comprehensive data center regulation bill, passed the House 51-41 but died in the Senate. It would have required utilities to develop tariffs preventing financial risk to other customers, mandated annual sustainability reports, and prevented data centers from receiving free carbon credits. Instead, the Legislature passed SB 5982, which clarifies that large customers including data centers must meet the same clean energy deadlines as utilities and directs the UTC to establish reporting requirements. The Data Center Workgroup is expected to issue its final report later in 2026.

HB 1265 would establish a one-year moratorium on new data center construction and create a study committee examining environmental impacts. Introduced by Rep. Peter Schmidt (D-Dover). Supporters cited that 100,000 sq ft data centers use up to 5 MW of electricity and 5 million gallons of water daily. Committee did not take immediate action after February 11 hearing.

East Bay Data Center
B+F Timpanogos proposed converting a warehouse in Provo's East Bay into a 66,000 sq ft, 5MW data center on 9 acres. Mayor Marsha Judkins formally objected to the project, saying an additional data center would not be in residents' best interest. Despite the mayor's opposition, the Planning Commission recommended rezoning approval 5-2 and unanimously approved the project plan. Concerns focused on water usage, the facility's proximity to Rocky Mountain University, and whether approximately 30 jobs would justify the water and power consumption. UPDATE: Provo City Council unanimously denied (7-0) the rezoning request for B+F Timpanogos Tech Center's 66,000 sq ft data center at 1507 S. and 180 East on March 11, 2026. The consensus was the city needed to complete its economic master plan first. Mayor Marsha Judkins also objected to the project.

Project Eisenhower
QTS Data Centers plans a $2 billion data center at 2883 Gordon Highway that could be twice the size of Augusta, Georgia, Mall (140 acres). The company filed to expand to six two-story buildings totaling over 2.15 million sq ft. The project is expected to create 160-220 jobs and could be completed by Q2 2026. The project flew 'under the radar' until local news coverage revealed its scale, surprising neighbors.

Microsoft (Mount Pleasant, $13.3B project), Meta (Beaver Dam campus via Alliant Energy)
Two Wisconsin PSC dockets address data center rate structures. Docket 6630-TE-113: We Energies proposed a 'Very Large Customer' rate class for customers with electricity demands above 500 MW (targeting hyperscale data centers like Microsoft in Mount Pleasant). Over 200 people joined virtual hearings on Feb 10-11, 2026, with ~85% of speakers voicing concerns about the proposal, urging that tech companies pay their full share of infrastructure costs. Critics argue the proposal would only require data centers to pay 75% of infrastructure costs, leaving 25% subsidized by the public. Docket 6680-TE-115: Alliant Energy's Individual Contract Rate Agreement to serve a data center campus in Beaver Dam (widely assumed to be Meta). The PSC required Alliant to refile the contract with fewer redactions after advocates raised transparency concerns. A coalition of 42 environmental justice, faith, conservation, and community organizations submitted formal comments voicing concerns about the proposals.
NAACP (national and Wisconsin State Conference)

Requires new data centers with 20+ MW demand to generate their own power off-grid, with a 10-year transition for existing facilities and $1 million/day penalties for violations. Also requires public disclosure of current and projected utility usage. Introduced by Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

LD 307 Moratorium Amendment
LiquidCool (seeking exemption for Loring data center)
Maine LD 307 ('Resolve, to Establish the Maine Artificial Intelligence Data Center Coordination Council'), sponsored by Rep. Melanie Sachs (D-Freeport), would establish a data center coordination council within the energy resources department to evaluate policy options for data center development. During a February 12, 2026 work session, Sachs proposed a moratorium amendment to pause building, permitting, and establishment of data centers with loads above 20 MW until July 1, 2028. The amendment was objected to by Sen. Matt Harrington (R-York), who said it would harm a data center development in his district. The LiquidCool Solutions AI data center at the former Loring Air Force Base (2 MW, using patented immersion-cooling technology, no water for cooling) would likely not be affected by the moratorium; LiquidCool expects a waiver since the facility is 26 MW total and uses existing underutilized power generation. The Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee voted 8-5 (party-line, Democrats in favor) on March 6, 2026, to advance LD 307 with amendments to the full legislature. The bill imposes a moratorium on data centers with 20+ MW electric load until ~October 2027 and creates a Data Center Coordination Council. Full floor vote has not yet occurred.
Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM)
Slingshot (environmental health and justice organization)

Colorado: Two competing approaches: SB 26-102 requires data centers to pay full electricity and grid investment costs, mandates hourly matching of 100% renewable electricity from new sources starting 2031, and prohibits discounted 'economic development rates' for data centers consuming 30+ MW. The competing HB 26-1030 takes the opposite approach with a 20-year sales/use tax exemption for qualifying data centers.

Wilmington Data Center Campus (nearby trigger for Blanchester moratorium)
Blanchester Village Council unanimously approved a moratorium on Feb. 12, 2026, after AWS proposed a $3B data center in nearby Wilmington (which was tabled) and other projects emerged in Mt. Orab. Council cited concerns about being 'circled' by surrounding proposals. The Amazon/AWS project involves 471 acres. Opposition was led by Coalition Against Data Centers in South Ohio. Key concerns driving this action include zoning concerns and community impacts. The outcome remains pending.

Metrobloks proposed a $500 million, 75MW urban data center on 14 acres at the former Sherman Drive-In site in Martindale-Brightwood, Indianapolis. On April 1, 2026, the Metropolitan Development Commission voted 6-2 to approve rezoning despite nearly 100 people speaking in opposition. On April 6, 13 rounds were fired at Councilor Ron Gibson's home with a 'No Data Centers' note left on his doorstep; FBI and DHS are assisting the investigation. The Protect Martindale-Brightwood coalition condemned the violence. The project now goes to the City-County Council for final approval.

Microsoft (Mount Pleasant data center), Meta (Beaver Dam data center)
Wisconsin: SB 1061 would ban data center construction until the state establishes a data center planning authority, prohibits energy/water cost-shifting to residents, creates a land and community funding mechanism, eliminates subsidies, mandates public reporting, creates pollution regulations, requires 100% renewable energy, requires prevailing wages, restores PSC planning authority, prohibits NDAs between data centers and government, and creates enforcement/penalty structures (proposed by Microsoft). Intent is not permanent prohibition but responsible development.

Wallula Gap Data Center Campus
In Walla Walla County, Washington, Port of Walla Walla unanimously approved $36M sale of 553 acres at Wallula Gap Business Park to AWS for a $4.8B, 16-building, 3.4M sq ft data center campus (320 MW). College Place Mayor objected, saying Port cannot 'wash its hands' of environmental harm. Opposition focused on water consumption, noise, and loss of agricultural heritage.
Walla Walla chapter, Democratic Socialists of America

York Township, Michigan, (Washtenaw County) enacted a 6-month moratorium on data center development on February 12, 2026, after representatives for developer Sansone Group discussed a possible 1-gigawatt data center on 200 acres of property owned by Toyota at the corner of Willis and Platt roads ($750M). The proposed site is roughly 6 miles from Augusta Township's potential $1B data center, 10 miles from the Oracle/OpenAI $7B Saline Township project, and 8 miles from the UMich/Los Alamos Ypsilanti Township data center.

HB 593 (Rep. Josh Bray, R) requires data centers to cover transmission and infrastructure costs, generate their own power or purchase on the open market, with a $75,000 nonrefundable application fee. Unanimously passed the House Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee on Feb 26, 2026. A companion bill HB 544 (Reps. Adam Moore & William Lawrence) prohibits utilities from serving data centers with 100+ MW aggregate capacity without a PSC-approved specific tariff. As of late March 2026, HB 593 is advancing in the Senate. Both bills aim to ensure data center costs are not passed to ratepayers and tie tax breaks to compliance with local zoning.

Chatham County, North Carolina, approved a 12-month moratorium on the development of new data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities on February 13, 2026, after Natelli Investments proposed a data center in the area. The ban applies to all development approvals for data centers, data processing facilities, cryptocurrency mining operations and 'any uses associated with data processing facilities,' including web services, hosting, and genome sequencing. The moratorium applies to unincorporated areas and lasts through February 2027.
North Carolina Environmental Justice Network (NCEJN)

Dickson City Development LLC / Kriger Construction
Dickson City, Pennsylvania, Borough Council adopted regulations that define, regulate and restrict data centers as special exceptions in the town's light manufacturing district, limiting data centers to Enterprise Street near Eagle Lane (proposed by Dickson City Development LLC / Kriger Construction) (403 acres). The ordinance halted a proposed Bell Mountain data center campus. About 300 people attended the public hearing, with all 25 speakers either raising concerns about data centers or outright voicing concerns about them. Borough council stated 'We are not a sacrifice zone.'

The Southern Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice, on behalf of the NAACP, sent a notice of intent to sue xAI and subsidiary MZX Tech LLC for operating 27 unpermitted natural gas turbines (495 MW capacity) at a former power plant in Southaven, Mississippi, without Clean Air Act permits (114 acres). The turbines are allegedly the largest industrial source of NOx in the 11-county Memphis metro area. The Safe and Sound Coalition, a Southaven group, gathered 900+ petition signatures calling for xAI operations to be shut down. At a packed Feb. 17 regulatory hearing, community members expressed concerns about the 41 permanent turbines xAI has applied for. Boxtown, the nearest Memphis neighborhood, faces cancer risk four times the national average. This is a distinct action from the existing Southaven entry covering the $20B investment.

Lordstown/Trumbull County Data Center
Hubbard Township, Ohio, trustees voted 2-1 to approve a resolution placing a one-year moratorium on data centers entering the township in February 2026 (proposed by Bristolville 25 Developer LLC). The township attorney reviewed the moratorium proposal and suggested it would be a wise idea, providing a 12-month window for the zoning commission to engage the public and develop appropriate regulations.

A Scioto County resident filed a lawsuit accusing the county commission of violating Ohio's Open Meetings Act by conducting negotiations with Google for a $1 billion, 500,000-square-foot data center in Franklin Furnace behind closed doors (792 acres). Commissioners admitted to signing NDAs that prevented them from publicly naming Google or discussing project details for months. Google was given a 75% tax abatement for 15 years. The secrecy sparked a separate legislative response: two Ohio lawmakers introduced a bill to ban NDAs for elected officials tied to their public duties.

Project Green
Preserving Montgomery County LLC (formed Dec. 27, 2025 by Sabrina Cope of Truxton) filed a lawsuit in Cole County Circuit Court alleging the commission violated Missouri open meetings and open records laws (Sunshine Law). The lawsuit seeks to void $35B in industrial revenue bonds and the development agreement for Amazon/AWS's estimated $8.5 billion data center on 1,000 acres. Attorney Steve Jeffrey represents the plaintiffs (residents, business owners, farmers). The project is located at the I-70/MO-19 intersection.

Ohio: HB 706 bans utilities from recovering data center infrastructure costs by shifting them onto other customers and requires long-term service agreements of at least 12 years. Mirrors AEP's existing tariff requiring data centers to cover 85% of energy costs. Senate Democrats introduced additional bills to eliminate tax breaks, require developers to cover infrastructure costs, and impose greater oversight. Around 18 municipalities have enacted local moratoriums on data centers.

Oppidan Investment Co. / Connect Data Centers
In City of Eagan, Minnesota, First Minnesota city to enact a data center moratorium, Prompted by Oppidan Investment Co. and Connect Data Centers' proposal for a facility on 22 acres. One-year pause through February 17, 2027 on facilities using more than 20 MW or within 500 feet of residential land. Eagan City Council voted 4-0 on February 17, 2026 to adopt the ban after growing concern over data center impacts on residential neighborhoods.
Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development

San Marcos, Texas, City Council voted 5-2 at 2:14 AM on February 18, 2026 to deny zoning amendments for a $1.5 billion, 380 MW data center by Highlander SC One LLC (Fort Worth) on 200 acres on Francis Harris Lane. The proposed facility would have consumed 70,000 gallons of water daily (25 million gallons annually). Water supply was the defining issue. Over 100 residents spoke against the project during 8+ hours of testimony. The overflow room erupted in cheers when the denial vote came. Part of a broader wave in Hays County where 5 data centers have been proposed amid historic drought conditions. Maberry must wait six months before resubmitting.

DC BLOX is the company behind the Lowndes County, Georgia, data center proposal (720 acres). DC BLOX's CEO informed the landowner (Pope Langdale) the facility could create up to 400 jobs with $135,000 average salary and would use closed-loop cooling. Lowndes Citizens Against Data Centers (LCAD), organized with Alpha Kappa Alpha Upsilon and the Valdosta State University Anthropology Club, hosted a town hall where citizens pushed back on the potential development. In fall 2025, a parcel was rezoned for the potential data center.
Lowndes Citizens Against Data Centers (LCAD)

Richfield Township (Lucas County) passed a 12-month data center moratorium on Feb. 17, 2026, part of a wave across northwest Ohio triggered by Meta's $800M data center in nearby Middleton Township. Residents had packed a June 2025 trustee meeting to challenge a potential rezoning. Joins Maumee, Waterville, and Monclova Township.

Pennsylvania: Proposes a three-year moratorium on hyperscale data center construction including associated power generation and transmission infrastructure. Multiple legislators involved: Sen. Katie Muth, Sen. Rosemary Brown (R) who supports restricting data centers to industrial zones, and Rep. Jamie Walsh (R) who plans a separate regulatory package. Bipartisan opposition with over 50 planned data centers facing resistance from community groups across the state.

CloudBurst Data Centers / Highlander SC One LLC
Water advocates identified 5 data centers proposed for the Hays County, Texas, region during historic drought (proposed by CloudBurst Data Centers / Highlander SC One LLC) (1.2GW, $1.2B, 200 acres). County Judge Ruben Becerra proposed a 30-day moratorium on high-water-use building permits but was forced to table it after county attorneys warned it would trigger a lawsuit the county would likely lose. San Marcos City Council scored a major win Feb. 17, voting 5-2 at 2:14 AM to block a $1.5B Highlander SM One data center after 8+ hours of testimony from 100+ residents. Hays County aquifers are at historic lows. Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra proposed a moratorium on permits for large industrial water users (>20,000 gal/day) but the Commissioners Court tabled it on Feb 25 after county attorneys warned it would trigger a lawsuit the county would lose. State Sen. Bettencourt warned counties lack authority for moratoriums. Water advocates have identified 5 potential data center developments in the region and continue organizing.

Ann Arbor Township Board of Trustees passed a 12-month moratorium on data centers. No developer has approached township officials about a data center; the moratorium is a proactive measure reflecting concerns about water, energy demand, and environmental impacts seen in neighboring communities. Opposition was led by Protect Augusta Charter Township (PACT), Stop the Data Center, and Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan (EDRA of MI). The community successfully achieved its objective.

Columbiana City Council unanimously approved a new ordinance imposing zoning restrictions on future data centers, becoming the first Alabama municipality to pass such restrictions ($200M). Requirements include: 60 ft max height (including rooftop equipment), 300 ft setback from residentially zoned districts, 25 ft landscape buffer, sound study demonstrating facility does not exceed 67 dB, and full enclosure or screening/fencing. Future data centers require a special permit from the Board of Adjustments. The restrictions do not apply retroactively to the existing DigiPower X facility (22MW expanding to 55MW by 2027). Came after a packed town hall where residents voiced concerns about noise, water, and energy impacts.

SB 1586, which would have brought 373 acres of rural land into Hillsboro's UGB for tech industries, was shelved. Separately, Councilor Kipperlyn Sinclair launched a petition on April 8, 2026 calling for a temporary moratorium on new data center development to study long-term impacts on economy, environment, and energy. Key concerns: Hillsboro School District lost $128M to tax abatements in 2024; data centers pay less than half what residents pay for power; and completed data centers have no power and are being told 3-5 years wait.

MACROHARDRR
xAI purchased a power plant in Southaven and plans to invest $20B+ in data centers in DeSoto County (Colossus 2) (114 acres). The company installed 27 unpermitted gas turbines capable of generating 495MW — equivalent to a conventional power plant — without obtaining any permits. The turbines roar 'like jet engines' day and night, causing respiratory problems and insomnia for residents. The Safe and Sound Coalition gathered approximately 700 signatures demanding shutdown. At a Feb 2026 public hearing packed with hundreds of attendees, not a single person spoke in favor of xAI's proposed permanent air permit. Earthjustice and the SELC, on behalf of the NAACP, sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue for Clean Air Act violations. The facility would likely be the largest industrial source of NOx in the 11-county Memphis metropolitan area. Governor Tate Reeves called it the largest private investment in Mississippi history.

Monclova Township trustees unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on Feb. 18, 2026 after residents packed multiple meetings. Although no data center has been proposed in the township, Meta's nearby facility in Middleton Township prompted preemptive action. Approximately 18 municipalities across northwest Ohio now considering or enacting similar pauses.
Stop Data Centers in Maumee, Monclova, Waterville & Whitehouse

Elmwood Township, Michigan, Board unanimously approved a 9-month moratorium on data centers (reduced from originally proposed 12 months). No known data center plans exist for the county; the moratorium is precautionary. The board tabled the measure at its January 21 meeting before passing the amended version in February.

In Illinois, Governor Pritzker proposed a 2-year suspension of the Data Center Investment Program (enacted 2019, offers up to 20 years of tax exemptions) during his 2026 budget address. Driven by ICC/IPA/IEPA Resource Adequacy Study projecting capacity shortfalls by 2029 in Northern IL. 37 projects built under the program.

A Meta data center spanning 715,000 sq ft under construction in Middleton Township, Ohio, was revealed in April 2025, anticipated operational in 2027 with 100 employees (350 MW, 280 acres). Over 150 residents packed a Wood County Planning Commission meeting demanding transparency about the $800M facility. Concerns include massive water consumption, electricity usage, farmland loss, and environmental and health impacts. A power plant for the data center was fast-tracked and approved with no public hearings. Nearby communities enacted moratoriums in response: Monclova Township approved a 12-month moratorium in February 2026, and Maumee City Council approved a 12-month moratorium on February 2, 2026.

New Brunswick, New Jersey, City Council voted unanimously on Feb 19, 2026 to remove data centers as a permitted use from the Jersey-Sandford Redevelopment Plan, killing the Amzak Capital-backed 27,000 sq ft AI data center proposal (proposed by Amzak Capital Management) (22 acres). The site at 100 Jersey Avenue was restored to its original designation as public park space. The decision came after hundreds of residents rallied inside and outside City Hall in opposition.
NJ Build Up Resistance Now (NJ B.U.R.N.)

Iowa Transparency Bill
Iowa HF 2447, proposed by Rep. Cindy Golding (R-Cedar Rapids), creates new reporting requirements and utility rate structures for data centers. Data centers must file quarterly reports with the Iowa DNR on water usage (source, volume, efficiency) and quarterly energy reports with the Iowa Utilities Commission (power consumption, on-site generators, sustainability metrics like waste heat reuse). All data must be publicly shared online within 30 days. The bill also requires the Iowa Utilities Commission to create a separate rate class for data centers to prevent grid upgrade costs from being shifted to residents. Separately, HF 2261 would create a new water utility customer class for energy facilities requiring 20+ MW. The bill survived legislative funnel week in February 2026.
Iowa State Association of Counties (supportive)

The Mercer County Commission voted 3-2 on March 3, 2026 to enact a one-year moratorium on data center applications, halting all activity relating to data center projects in the county. Commissioner Jamee Folk made the motion after an hour of heated public testimony from residents concerned about a proposed 555-acre hyperscale data center on prime farmland near Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill. Residents cited lack of transparency from data center proponents, fears of increased electric rates, and threats to agricultural heritage. Over 3,100 residents had signed a petition voicing concerns about the project, and hundreds packed the Mercer County Fairgrounds at earlier meetings to voice unified opposition. The moratorium can be lifted early or extended by the commission. This follows the 'We Are Mercer County' grassroots campaign that mobilized through packed public meetings and a rapidly growing petition drive.

The City of Aurora is developing new data center regulations as its existing moratorium nears expiration (40 MW, $350M, 32 acres). The proposed rules include maximum noise levels of 59 dB daytime and 49 dB nighttime, a ban on roof-mounted chiller units within 1,500 feet of residential/educational/hospital uses, and ground-mounted chillers and generators at least 1,000 feet from such uses. The regulations stem from extensive noise complaints by residents near the existing CyrusOne data center. Over 200 residents voiced concerns at an open house on Feb. 12 and at a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. CyrusOne's permanent sound solution is due by Sept. 30, 2026. Council voted March 24 to adopt 'the strongest data center regulations in Illinois' — 56 dB day/46 dB night noise caps, 1,500 ft generator setbacks, mandatory impact studies.

Cayuga Data Campus
In Town of Dryden, New York, Dryden Town Board unanimously banned data centers and cryptocurrency mines, Becoming the first town in New York State to outlaw data centers. The ban followed an 18-month land-use moratorium and was driven by concerns over TeraWulf's proposed 750MW, $500 million facility on 183 acres. Residents cited energy draw, water use, and noise as primary concerns.

Three northeast Wisconsin towns -- Two Creeks, Two Rivers, and Mishicot -- passed resolutions calling on Manitowoc County to place a one-year moratorium on new data center permits and construction, with an option to extend for six months. The resolutions were prompted by Texas-based Cloverleaf Infrastructure approaching local landowners with offers to purchase farmland for a data center. The area is targeted due to its proximity to the Point Beach nuclear power plant. Farmers are concerned about losing agricultural land and residents worry about changes to the rural character. The resolutions go to the Manitowoc County Planning and Park Commission, then to the full county board for consideration.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) introduced the AI Data Center Moratorium Act on March 25, 2026, proposing a nationwide halt on new data center construction until Congress passes federal AI legislation establishing worker protections, consumer safeguards, environmental standards, and civil rights provisions. The bill formalizes Sanders' earlier moratorium call from December 2025. It is unlikely to advance — Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) called it 'China First' and most lawmakers of both parties have rejected moratorium proposals. Food & Water Watch endorsed the bill, saying it is 'desperately needed as Americans' energy bills skyrocket.'

In North Coventry Township, Pennsylvania, Township supervisors voted 3-2 to reject a 120,000 sq ft, three-story 'boutique' data center on 18 acres off Route 724 before the proposal was even formally submitted. Over 100 residents attended, mostly in opposition. Developer Envision Land Use subsequently abandoned the plan entirely. The proposed site was at 299 W. Schuylkill Road, adjacent to Route 100 near a PECO substation.

Sentinel Grove Technology Park / Project Jarvis
Epic Estates 68 LLC / Timberline Real Estate Partners
In St. Lucie County, Florida, The developer of Sentinel Grove Technology Park (Project Jarvis), a proposed 1,218-acre, 15-million-square-foot, $13.5B data center campus at 1GW capacity in Fort Pierce (proposed by Epic Estates 68 LLC / Timberline Real Estate Partners), withdrew its land-use application in anticipation of Gov. DeSantis's proposed legislation restricting hyperscale data centers on agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands. As of February 2026, the project is listed as 'Canceled' in county records. Florida Senate bills CS/SB 482 and CS/CS/SB 484 introduce land-use restrictions, utility cost requirements, and transparency rules for large data centers.

CoreSite DE3 / Elyria-Swansea campus
Denver City Council planning committee approved on March 31, 2026 a measure for a one-year moratorium on acceptance/processing of data center permit and site development applications. First reading before full City Council expected April 20. Public hearing set for May 18. If passed, it would take effect May 21. The moratorium was prompted by a large CoreSite data center under construction in Elyria-Swansea. Mayor Johnston and city council are aligned on passage.

Sioux Falls Hyperscale Data Center
Gemini Data Center SD LLC (Gemini Capital)
Lincoln County Commissioner Joel Arends proposed a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data centers requiring 100+ MW, calling it an opportunity to 'press pause and further research' the impacts of projects like Gemini Data Center SD LLC's proposed $1.9 billion, 500MW facility on 164 acres. However, no commissioner seconded the motion, killing the measure. Commissioner Jim Schmidt argued projects of that scale already take at least a year to go through the permitting process with multiple public hearings. The commission voted 3-2 to refer regulations to Planning and Zoning instead, to the dismay of 15 constituents in the audience who supported the moratorium.
Lincoln County residents (Commissioner Joel Arends supporters)

In Sunbury, Ohio, Amazon Web Services plans a $2B data center campus on 241 acres at 11793 Vans Valley Road in the Sunbury Business and Technology Park. The public hearing on rezoning was initially postponed due to a paperwork error. Dozens of residents packed a public meeting to speak out against the project, with one overflow room filled, citing fears about impacts on water quality, environment, and local infrastructure. On March 25, 2026, Mayor Joe St. John announced at the State of the City event that the city will pursue a moratorium on data center development. The earliest construction could begin is 2030-2031, when electricity infrastructure is completed.

Marietta Campus Data Center
Cobb County, Georgia, Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to implement a 180-day moratorium on new data center permits and rezoning applications in unincorporated areas, prompted by Grindcap (MMM Acquisitions LLC)'s proposed 108MW data center on 31 acres. Resolution cited noise pollution, air quality impacts from cooling systems and backup generators, aesthetics concerns, and significant effects on power and water utilities.

Franklin County, Indiana, Commissioners voted unanimously to extend the data center moratorium through February 2027, preventing new applications while the county gathers information and develops regulations for large-scale data center operations like ABEI Energy's proposed $1.75 billion, 860MW facility on 300 acres ($1.8B). The extended timeline provides additional study time beyond the original one-year term.

In South Dakota, multiple data center bills saw different outcomes: HB 1005 (50-year sales tax exemption for data centers) was rejected 9-3 in House State Affairs Committee. SB 232 (one-year moratorium) passed committee but was killed in full Senate vote. SB 135 ('Data Center Bill of Rights for Citizens' from Sen. Karr) passed committee 5-4 - it would set protections for utility ratepayers and resources while banning tax exemptions for data centers. Bills addressing noise levels, minimum distances from residences, and water/electricity regulation were also halted.

Meta (Lebanon data center), Amazon ($11B Lake Michigan data center), Google ($2B Fort Wayne campus), Sabey (Decatur Township proposal)
Over 200 people from 40 counties attended a 'People's Hearing on Data Centers' at the Indiana State Library on Feb 24, organized by Hoosier Action (proposed by Meta). Attendees delivered postcards urging legislators and Gov. Braun to regulate data centers. Rep. Shackleford's HB 1245 (requiring IURC to study data center energy impacts) never advanced. Citizens Action Coalition has called for a statewide moratorium since October 2025. Local moratoriums are advancing: Fulton County approved a one-year moratorium on March 3; Starke County and Dearborn County also enacted moratoriums.

Mooringsport Mayor Tyler Gordon, Michael Craft, and Mary Blakemore filed a petition for judicial review in Caddo District Court challenging the Shreveport City Council's approval of a special use permit for a TXLAAR LLC data center (300 MW, 250 acres). The lawsuit alleges the city violated transparency laws by using NDAs, and that the facility would use up to 7.5 million gallons of water/day and discharge 2.5 million gallons of contaminated wastewater daily. The Sierra Club Delta Chapter supports the lawsuit and is working to join as co-plaintiffs. The facility would include seven 400,000 sq ft buildings.

Everett Planning Board voted unanimously to endorse an ordinance restricting data centers in the Docklands Innovation District (EDID). Caps facilities at 20,000 sq ft or 5 MW (whichever smaller), requires special permit, mandates data centers be ancillary use within larger developments. Now heads to City Council for two required approval votes.

In West Rockhill Township, Pennsylvania, West Rockhill Board of Supervisors advanced a preemptive data center zoning ordinance restricting data centers to the township's industrial district adjacent to Hilltown Township and Telford Borough along State Road. Notable requirement: data centers must be powered by solar energy and served by public water and sewer. The ordinance includes definitions, building regulations, and accessory use standards. No data center proposals have been submitted; supervisors are taking proactive action. Public hearing scheduled for April 15, 2026 after review by township and county planning commissions.

East Rockhill supervisors advanced a preemptive data center ordinance (no application yet received). Restricts data centers to industrial districts at Pennridge Airport, requires 50-acre minimum lot size, proposes 60-foot height limit. Nearly identical to ordinance under consideration in neighboring West Rockhill.

City of Hilliard is suing to block Amazon's plan to install 228 natural gas-fed solid oxide fuel cell units on a 6-acre site adjacent to its data center campus (73 MW, $200M, 142 acres). The Ohio Power Siting Board approved the project under HB 15, preempting local review. Opposition group 'Protect Hilliard' formed; residents worry about pollutants near an elementary school. NEW: Amazon is also seeking a Title V operating permit for 158 Tier 2 diesel backup generators at 4120 Scioto Darby Creek Rd. Ohio EPA public hearing scheduled March 19, 2026 at Hilliard Community Center. Public comment period through March 25. Residents mailed 160+ signed petition letters to Ohio EPA asking them to require Tier 4 generators instead.

In City of Portage, Michigan, Portage enacted a temporary moratorium on data centers and battery energy storage facilities through end of year to allow the city to review zoning rules and potential impacts. A public hearing on new ordinance amendments was scheduled for March 2026, Part of a broader trend of at least 27 Michigan communities pausing data center development.

Meramec Valley Technology Park
Atlanta-based Beltline Energy pitched a $16B, 16-building datacenter campus on 500 acres requiring annexation into Pacific (1.3GW). Hundreds of residents packed Pacific High School in opposition. The developer withdrew the rezoning request at the public hearing after overwhelming community pushback. In April 2026, Mayor Heather Filley, who had supported the data center proposal, lost reelection to Alderwoman Debbie Kelley amid continued data center backlash.
Pacific ROOT Coalition (Pacific Residents Organizing for Our Tomorrow Coalition)

Phillipsburg, New Jersey, Town Council voted unanimously to approve first reading of an ordinance banning data centers in all zones, citing water and energy demands. Final vote and public hearing scheduled for March 10, 2026. Officials referenced the town's Master Plan prioritizing rural character and agricultural heritage.
Phillipsburg Town Council Anti-Data Center Coalition

Dearborn County, Indiana, Board of Commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on rezoning proposals for commercial solar, battery storage, and data centers effective February 26. The county is collecting public feedback for two months on potential rule changes. No applications will be accepted during the moratorium period.

In Caddo-Bossier Parishes, Louisiana, Amazon announced $12B investment in three data center campuses across northwest Louisiana (west Shreveport, near Blanchard, and north of Benton in Bossier Parish) (1,230 acres). Construction expected to begin March 2026. Community opposition centers on water use (plans to draw from Caddo Lake and Cross Lake), air quality concerns in a state already ranking worst for air quality, transparency issues with elected officials signing NDAs, and potential utility cost increases. Mooringsport village officials voted unanimously for an environmental study on Caddo Lake impacts, but the Caddo Commission declined to vote on water restrictions.

Project Ruby
Habitat Real Estate Partners / Atlas Development
Columbus, Georgia, City Council discussed a proposed $5.18 billion, 900-acre data center campus (Project Ruby) in northeast Muscogee County near Harris and Talbot County lines (600 MW). Developer Habitat Real Estate Partners selected Layfield Road in the Upatoi area. Over 200 residents packed town halls in March, with the vast majority voicing concerns. A Change.org petition has 4,100+ signatures. The Planning Advisory Commission voted to recommend a technology overlay district ordinance with a 500-foot setback (up from 75 feet) and an independent oversight board. Inside Climate News published a major investigation on April 13, 2026 highlighting the project. Clean Energy Columbus is pushing for a moratorium until the city establishes standards for power, cooling, water, and tax breaks.

Community members rallied outside Fort Meade, Florida, City Hall to protest a proposed $2.7 billion, 1.2-gigawatt, 4.4-million-square-foot hyperscale data center on over 1,330 acres being developed by Stonebridge. The city previously approved rezoning and a tax break, but residents are demanding a halt before a final site plan vote expected in March. Concerns center on massive water and energy drain in a small rural Polk County city, noise from low-frequency sound, and diesel backup generator pollution. The project would be one of the largest data centers in the US.

T5 Data Centers (existing); second developer proposed
In City of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, Kings Mountain City Council voted 5-2 to approve a six-month moratorium on new data centers while the city studies impacts on water supplies, Noise, and power costs (proposed by T5 Data Centers) (120 MW, $75M, 300 acres). One major data center already exists on Shelby Road. Councilmember Annie Thombs said 'That's great, but what else is it going to bring? We don't know. Everything that has a dollar sign in front of it doesn't mean it's good.' The moratorium follows a growing wave of data center opposition across North Carolina.

Bipartisan House Bills 5594-5596 would create the 'Data Center Regulation Act' and halt construction of new data centers in Michigan until April 1, 2027. The moratorium would give local communities time to assess project ramifications. At least 25 Michigan communities have enacted local data center moratoriums. Gov. Whitmer opposes the bills, calling any legislation preventing economic growth 'an automatic non-starter' that would be vetoed.

Penzance Management announced a $4B Bedington Campus data center in Berkeley County, the first certified 'High Impact Intelligence Center' under West Virginia's HB 2014 (600 MW, 548 acres). The project is exempt from local zoning, noise, lighting, and land use controls under the state certification framework. The designation represents a significant precedent for state preemption of local data center regulation.

Missouri has multiple data center bills (proposed by Google / Meta / Metrobloks). HB 3362 and HB 3364 (Reps. Colin Wellenkamp, Scott Miller, Mike Costlow), titled the 'AI Infrastructure, Grid Integrity and Water Resource Protection Act', would require large-load consumers to pay the full cost of electricity and infrastructure (including grid upgrades and new generation capacity) and create a water permit requirement from the DNR for facilities using 2+ million gallons of fresh water per day or 80% of local available capacity. Such facilities would need to build new freshwater capacity or create closed-loop freshwater systems. Separately, SB 1396 (Sen. Mike Henderson, R-Desloge) would alter 2018 economic development incentives to prevent data centers from taking advantage of energy incentive programs that were not designed for them.

Colossus Data Center Advisors / Bullock Capital
Spring Hill, Kansas, City Council voted on October 23, 2025 to move forward with rezoning 316 acres from Rural Residential to M-1 Industrial for a potential data center, though no end user or specific business has been identified (proposed by Colossus Data Center Advisors / Bullock Capital). About 300 homes would be impacted, and Spring Hill High School is only 3/4 mile from the proposed site. Approximately 45 people were originally notified about the rezoning. A public hearing was rescheduled to March 25, 2026. Residents are organizing to effort the rezoning, raising concerns about noise, traffic, property values, and proximity to schools.

The Missouri AI Infrastructure, Grid Integrity and Water Resource Protection Act is filed as HB 3362 and HB 3364 by Reps. Colin Wellenkamp, Scott Miller, and Mike Costlow (R-Dardenne Prairie). The legislation would establish separate utility rate structures for large customers with 50+ MW of annual peak demand, and create a permit system for large water users requiring facilities withdrawing 2+ million gallons/day to obtain 5-year permits from the DNR. If water use exceeds 80% of available local capacity, the facility must build out new freshwater capacity. The Missouri Future Caucus has prioritized this legislation. The bills had not yet been sent to committee as of late February 2026.

Air Products is appealing to the Upper Macungie Township, Pennsylvania, Zoning Hearing Board for a proposed 2.6 million-square-foot, three-building data center complex on their former 194-acre headquarters site along Cetronia Road. The project predates the township's new data center ordinance adopted December 4, 2025, so it would be reviewed under old zoning rules. Air Products requested a delay until May 27, 2026 to decide whether to proceed. Township adopted data center regulations in December 2025 but they won't apply to this project.

East Whiteland officials began revising the township's zoning ordinance after months of community pushback against a proposed 1.6 million sq ft data center (expanded 60% from original plan). Residents wore protest t-shirts, made lawn signs, and packed municipal meetings. Developers seeking expanded footprint at 13 S. Bacton Hill Rd.

Brookings Research Park Data Center
Brookings, South Dakota, City Council voted unanimously to reject a $644K sales-tax rebate for Sequitor Edge's proposed $41 million co-location data center. The denial came alongside state-level defeats: the House State Affairs Committee voted 9-3 against a 50-year data center sales tax break, and the Senate killed two data center incentive bills in a chaotic session when a key senator went missing and couldn't be located even by the governor.
Brookings City Council members (tax rebate opposition)

South Carolina (statewide moratorium H 5286)
South Carolina: Would bar state and local governments from granting permits, approvals, or incentives for new data centers until January 1, 2028 (proposed by TigerDC). Referred to House Ways and Means Committee. Introduced after mounting statewide opposition including the block of Project Spero in Spartanburg and ongoing efforts in Marion, Colleton, and York counties.

Project Turbo
Hall County, Georgia, Commission voted 4-0 on February 26, 2026, to approve a 180-day moratorium on data centers, planned industrial development, and detention centers, prompted by Williams Brothers Development's data center proposal. County staff will examine regulations for potential restrictions on developments and impacts to services, infrastructure, and residents. Chairman David Gibbs noted the moratorium can be extended 'months or years' beyond the initial 180 days. The action follows a $12B data center proposal that prompted county-wide concern.

Massachusetts: Comprehensive energy affordability bill that passed the House 128-27. Includes data center provisions to protect ratepayers from subsidizing data center energy costs. Also addresses clean energy procurement, nuclear energy restrictions, and offshore wind deadlines. Now in Senate. The outcome remains pending.

Project Spero
TigerDC formally withdrew its $3 billion 'Project Spero' AI data center from Tyger River Industrial Park after Spartanburg County Council unanimously voted down two Fee-In-Lieu-Of-Tax (FILOT) agreements (400 MW, 868 acres). Weeks of strong public opposition, a 'No Data Centers in Spartanburg' Facebook group with nearly 3,000 members, and a petition with 4,000+ signatures sealed the project's fate. The project would have employed only 50 people. County councillors refused the tax incentive after backlash over energy costs, health, and environmental concerns. UPDATE: More than two dozen protesters gathered at the Spartanburg County courthouse on March 7, then marched down Magnolia Street chanting about data center concerns. Northmark Strategies has started construction on one project; a second project is planned at 300 Jones Road. Separately, SC utility companies report data center proposals declining in the state.

Scranton Materials LLC filed an appeal after the Ransom Township Board of Supervisors rejected its zoning amendment application that would have permitted data centers at 819 Newton Road (251 acres). The company argues the township's zoning ordinance unlawfully excludes data centers, claiming Pennsylvania municipalities must allow every type of lawful land use somewhere within their borders. The proposal drew dozens of residents and elected officials who objected to the plans at multiple public hearings. The township's existing noise and building height requirements were cited as too restrictive for data centers.

GlobalAI Windsor Data Center
Weld County, Colorado, commissioners are developing a data center zoning ordinance (Code Ordinance 2026-01) that would limit data centers to industrial or agricultural zones and require site plan or special review (60 MW). Triggered by Global AI's purchase of 438 acres near Windsor for a $2 billion data center. The county extended the timeline for the ordinance's final reading to allow more public input. Facilities under 50MW total capacity would fall under these rules.

The Town of Leland initiated a preemptive text amendment to regulate data center facilities, requiring closed-loop cooling systems, a 60% renewable energy mandate, and restricting data centers to heavy industrial districts via conditional rezoning only. No data center has been proposed within town boundaries, but staff acted proactively given rapid regional growth of the industry, particularly nearby Microsoft plans for a 1,385-acre campus in North Carolina. A public hearing and final decision by Leland Town Council is scheduled for March 19, 2026.

Amazon Canton AI Data Center
Amazon's $10 billion data center campus in Canton, the largest capital investment in Mississippi history, occupies 1,713 acres across two sites in Madison County (650 MW). Construction has transformed the area with major road widening and utility upgrades. AP and national coverage revealed 700+ diesel generators powering the site, with residents of the Idlebriar neighborhood reporting dust, asthma, and constant noise complaints. The scale of diesel generation has drawn scrutiny over air quality impacts in the surrounding community.

Linn County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved one of the most comprehensive local data center zoning ordinances in the country on Feb. 18, 2026, in response to Google's proposed $7 billion, 565MW data center on 545 acres. The ordinance creates a new data-center-specific zoning district with requirements including comprehensive water study, water-use agreement before construction, 1,000-foot setbacks from residential zones, noise and light pollution limits, road damage compensation, and community betterment fund contributions. County planning director says no ordinance in Iowa asks for more requirements.

Plant Bowen Gas Turbine Expansion
In Bartow County, Georgia, Southern Environmental Law Center and Sierra Club filed a lawsuit challenging Georgia EPD's air permit for four new gas-and-oil combustion turbines at Georgia Power's Plant Bowen near Cartersville, Part of a $4.5 billion expansion driven by data center power demand across the 876-acre site. The groups argue Atlanta already exceeds federal ozone limits and that EPD disregarded nonattainment permitting requirements for the 432MW expansion. The appeal is before the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings. If built, the units would emit hundreds of additional tons of smog-forming pollution annually.

Pennsylvania Digital 1 (PAX-1)
Carlisle Development Partners / Powerhouse Data Centers
Despite growing opposition, Middlesex Township Planning Commission approved Phase 1-A of a proposed $15 billion, 700-acre, 18-building data center complex (Pennsylvania Digital 1/PAX-1) on Country Club Road near Carlisle (1.4GW). Led by Carlisle Development Partners LLC. The plan goes to the Board of Supervisors in March. Would create ~450 jobs and generate $65M in tax revenue. Community concerns center on massive water and power demands in a rural area.

Stillwater County residents submitted a formal petition to county commissioners requesting transparency, accountability, and protective action regarding proposed data center development (proposed by Quantica Infrastructure) (5,000 acres). The petition demands disclosure of tax abatements and public subsidies, protection of community water and electricity resources, direct public engagement before any approvals, and a formal letter to the Montana Public Service Commission requesting ratepayer protections. Part of broader Montana data center opposition—eleven developers are reportedly in talks with NorthWestern Energy statewide.
Butte Watchdogs for Social and Environmental Justice

Silver Fox
In Martin County, Florida, Silver Fox 606 LLC (developer Nelson Ferreira, Juno Beach) proposed a ~2 million sq ft data center campus with AI lab, four buildings, and an FPL substation in Indiantown. The site includes 200 acres of wetlands and habitat for protected species. South Florida Wildlands Association has raised environmental concerns. First of three public hearings expected March 2026.

Cumulus Real Estate Holdings LLC (Talen Energy subsidiary)
Cumulus Real Estate Holdings LLC, a Talen Energy subsidiary, sought to rezone 460 acres of rural land in Hollenback Township, Pennsylvania, for a $650 million, 960MW data center. The rezoning request was deemed denied and is now heading to Luzerne County Court. Residents packed meetings to demand answers about data center impacts. Landowners were reportedly offered $175K per acre, causing a divisive community split.

NY Data Center Moratorium Bill S9144/A10141
Multiple (statewide moratorium targeting hyperscaler data centers)
Over 100 New York groups called for passage of the statewide three-year data center moratorium bill, the 'strongest-in-the-nation' proposal that would prevent construction of new data centers while state agencies study environmental and economic impacts. Food & Water Watch coordinated the coalition effort.

Morgantown Generating Station Data Center
The Charles County Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of Zoning Text Amendment #25-187, which would have established zoning regulations for data centers in the county (proposed by TeraWulf) (500 MW, 250 acres). Chairman Kevin Wedding cited concerns about higher electric bills for residents. Board member Denard Earl noted that Maryland is conducting a statewide data center impact study expected to conclude in September 2026, suggesting the county wait for those results. Board member Semia Hackett questioned whether approving one facility could open the door to additional projects. The recommendation now moves to the Board of Commissioners for final consideration.
Coalition for Community Centered Data Centers in Southern Maryland

Oregon legislators added a provision to Governor Kotek's HB 4084 blocking new data center projects from eligibility for Enterprise Zone property tax breaks until summer 2027 (proposed by Amazon / Meta / Apple / Google). Data centers reaped over $45 million in enterprise zone tax benefits last year and $85 million this year. Sen. Jeff Golden (D-Ashland) pushed the amendment after threatening to propose a full bar on data center and crypto mining tax breaks. Oregon has roughly 125 data centers, mostly in the Portland area and near Columbia River hydroelectric dams. This is a distinct legislative action from the existing Oregon (statewide) entry which covers earlier regulatory discussion. HB 4084 extends the enterprise zone tax break program from 5 to 10 years but was amended to temporarily bar data centers from receiving the expanded tax breaks until summer 2027. Data centers currently account for the majority of enterprise zone tax breaks ($85M in 2026). Kotek supports the amendment. The 2026 short session has ended; bill awaits governor's signature. Governor Kotek signed HB 4084. Data centers blocked from Enterprise Zone tax breaks until summer 2027.

Pennsylvania HB2151 directs the Department of Community and Economic Development to create a model zoning ordinance municipalities can voluntarily adopt to regulate data centers, covering noise, water and energy usage, emergency response plans, and site location. Its companion bill HB2150 requires data centers to report annual water and energy usage to the Department of Environmental Protection. Both passed the House Energy Committee on party-line votes of 14-12 in the Democratic-controlled committee.

Fulton County, Indiana, Commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on data center construction on March 3, 2026, after a heated public hearing where residents voiced concerns about the Decennial Group's proposal for a 500MW, $150 million data center on 300 acres near Akron. The 'No Data Centers, Fulton County' opposition group organized residents who cited threats to water resources, agricultural land, and quality of life. The moratorium prevents new data center applications while the county develops regulations.

Lyon Township, Michigan, (Oakland County) board voted unanimously to enact a 180-day moratorium on data centers and all proposed developments 100,000+ sq ft on March 3, 2026. The moratorium followed months of community opposition to 'Project Flex,' a $4 billion, 1.8 million sq ft AI data center by California-based developer Verrus approved by the planning commission in September 2025 on 172 acres zoned industrial. Residents didn't learn about the project until December. The moratorium does not affect Project Flex, only newly proposed data centers.

University of Michigan / Los Alamos National Laboratory
In City of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Ypsilanti City Council held a public hearing on March 3 to consider both a 60-day emergency moratorium and a separate 365-day resolution on data center zoning permits, Amid regional concerns about projects including the University of Michigan / Los Alamos National Laboratory's proposed $1.2 billion, 110MW facility on 124 acres. The 60-day measure comes from city administration as a preventive step, while the 365-day resolution was introduced by Ward 3 Council member Amber Fellows. Council approved both the 60-day emergency ordinance and the 365-day resolution. This is preemptive -- no active data center proposals in Ypsilanti city proper.

Residents are challenging the validity of Tobyhanna Township's data center overlay zoning before the Zoning Hearing Board in Monroe County (proposed by Pennsylvania Glacial Till LLC) (520 acres). The hearing is scheduled for March 11, 2026 at 5pm. Part of a broader grassroots resistance movement in Pennsylvania against over 50 proposed data center projects across the state.
Tobyhanna Township Residents Against Caughbaugh Road Data Center

Royalton, Vermont, voters approved a five-year moratorium on AI and crypto data centers via show-of-hands vote at Town Meeting Day. About 154 of the town's registered voters participated. No data centers have been proposed for the town; the ban is preemptive. The Planning Commission will write the policy into the town plan for Selectboard approval. State Senator Becca White spoke at the meeting about her statewide moratorium bill (S. 205).

The Anchorage Assembly adopted Ordinance AO 2026-27 on March 27, 2026, establishing a new land use and permitting framework for data centers before receiving any large-scale applications. Data centers are defined as facilities requiring 20+ MW at peak operation (2,000+ servers). Key requirements: restricted to commercial/industrial zones; conditional use permitting with public process; setback and buffering requirements; input from local utilities required before project approval. Blocks data centers from residential zones.

Rural communities in North Caddo Parish organized a boycott of the official community meeting for Amazon/AWS's proposed $12 billion data center campus on 810 acres in Blanchard, Louisiana, on March 3. Residents near Caddo Lake object to the campus on State Line Road and Blanchard Latex Road near Mooringsport. State Rep. Danny McCormick has demanded transparency around NDAs signed by local officials. The Village of Mooringsport unanimously approved a resolution on Feb. 12 calling for an environmental study. Caddo Commission declined to vote on a one-year water moratorium proposed by Commissioner Chris Kracman.

Delta County, Michigan, Planning Commission considered a resolution to suspend data center and cryptocurrency mining projects for 12 months while a zoning ordinance is developed. Commission Chair Amy Berglund said no known data center plans exist for the county but cited concerns over utility demand and water usage. Final decision expected in April 2026.

Penn Forest Township, Pennsylvania, supervisors approved a comprehensive data center ordinance at a well-attended meeting at Penn's Peak (proposed by Mele Brothers Realty). The ordinance creates a new zoning overlay district covering 750 acres along Route 903, with requirements including: 30-acre minimum lot, 60 ft height cap plus 15 ft for rooftop equipment, noise and vibration standards, woodland protection (no more than 50% disturbance), Area of Influence water feasibility studies, and a decommissioning cost estimate from an independent engineer. Described as the 'least worst option' by community members who feared that without regulation, developers could exploit existing industrial zoning.

Mercer County Commission voted 3-2 for a one-year moratorium after NextEra subsidiary Boulevard Associates had been quietly acquiring land options on roughly 530 acres under NDA (proposed by NextEra Energy Resources). Commissioner Jamee Folk said 'We have so many questions and so many lies. We have ordinances to work out.' About 50 residents attended, most supporting the pause, citing lack of transparency, fear of increased electric rates, and the need for stronger landowner protections.

Calvert County Board of Commissioners voted 2-3 against a proposed 24-month moratorium on data center permits. Commissioner Hart had proposed the moratorium after Amazon AWS began evaluating a data center near the Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant and Natelli Holdings proposed a facility in Lusby (with a $30M park as trade-off). Board opted to pursue zoning text amendments instead.

Urbana City Council voted 6-1 to approve a 12-month moratorium on data centers over 10,000 sq ft, halting a proposed 460,000 sq ft Thor Equities facility off Routes 55 and 68 (400 MW, 133 acres). Over 40 citizens spoke at the meeting. The site consists of three parcels purchased for $5 million. Concerns center on impacts to Cedar Bog, water, electricity, noise, and property values. The only dissenting vote came from the mayor's wife. Urbana city council passed a 12-month moratorium on March 3, 2026 by a 6-1 vote, blocking any new data center over 10,000 sq ft. Thor Equities' proposed $1B Urbana Technology Hub (460,000 sq ft near Ohio 55 and US 68) is now in limbo. Over 4,000 online signatures were collected voicing concerns about data centers in Champaign County within two weeks.

Google abandoned unincorporated Linn County and is pursuing annexation into the City of Palo, Iowa (pop. 1,407) to avoid the county's strict zoning. Palo held a town hall on March 25 where residents pressed city leaders for details. On April 4, a KCRG investigation revealed documents showing Palo negotiated with Google for months while publicly downplaying involvement. The project would require annexing ~545 acres near the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant. Mayor Bryan Busch supports the project but promised community protections.

Project Azalea
McDuffie County Commission voted 3-1 on March 17, 2026 to approve Project Azalea, a $1 billion data center development by Williams Brothers Development. The project includes up to six buildings across 200 acres on Randall Hunt Road near a Georgia Power substation, requiring 400MW of energy from Jefferson Energy. Expected to bring 125 full-time jobs and $25 million in annual tax revenue. Despite community pushback over transparency, water consumption from Clarks Hill Lake, potential power bill increases, noise pollution, and insufficient energy supply, commissioners approved the rezoning with conditions including sound barriers and generator restrictions.

SB 526 adds a zoning requirement to Kansas's existing SB 98 data center sales tax exemption program, mandating that data centers must be located on land zoned for industrial or manufacturing uses — or land that was unzoned as of July 1, 2025 — to qualify for the 20-year, 100% sales and use tax exemption. The bill responds to concerns about data centers being sited on agricultural land, particularly as multiple companies seek to acquire more than 1,000 acres of Kansas farmland for new facilities.

Project Liberty
During a rare winter storm on January 22, 2025, Marion County Council approved a $2.4B data center under the code name 'Project Liberty' while most residents were snowed in and unaware. The project is by Stream Data Centers (operating as Eagle Myra LLC) in the county's industrial park on US Highway 501 Bypass, with up to six buildings in two phases. Stream said the facility would create only 20 permanent jobs. Marion County Council passed all three readings of the ordinance under a nondisclosure agreement, preventing officials from making details public. Residents packed a subsequent council meeting demanding transparency. In March 2026, South Carolina lawmakers submitted a resolution to temporarily halt data center projects statewide. Opposition continues with a Change.org petition voicing concerns about the ordinance.

Louisville Planning Commission voted 8-1 to approve Kentucky's first hyperscale data center near Shively, a joint venture between PowerHouse Data Centers and Poe Companies, despite more than 20 residents speaking in opposition. The seven-building campus on 153 acres at Camp Ground Road will require 400 MW at full capacity, with LG&E building a new transmission substation to serve the site. The initial 130 MW phase targets an October 2026 start, with power equivalent to roughly 68% of all LG&E residential customers' combined usage at full buildout.

In Georgia, SB 410 would repeal state sales and use tax exemption for new data centers while grandfathering existing projects. Locks into law that data centers must cover full cost of new generation and transmission infrastructure. Passed Senate 32-21 on Crossover Day (March 6, 2026). Phases out tax breaks: new DCs can't receive exemptions, existing companies keep them until 2028/2031. Also incorporates original SB 34 language requiring data centers to pay for grid infrastructure. Now goes to the House.

Champaign County's Environment and Land Use Committee voted to adopt a 9-month moratorium (amended down from 12 months) on data centers with >10,000 sq ft of processing area. Widespread public comment supported the moratorium. The full Champaign County Board is expected to vote on April 23, 2026. A data center task force will use the moratorium period to develop zoning regulations.

The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors voted to deny a massive 2,200-acre datacenter campus proposal that would have included 84 datacenter buildings and a 3,500MW natural gas power plant. Strong community opposition cited environmental and quality-of-life concerns. The denial was part of a broader wave of Virginia data center cancellations -- at least 25 projects were canceled in 2025.
Save Our Farmlands, No Power Plant No Data Center

Amazon Web Services withdrew a conditional use permit application for a 7.2 million-square-foot data center campus on 1,370 acres in Louisa County's Mineral area (south of Davis Highway/Route 22, north of Jefferson Highway/Route 33, surrounding Northeast Creek). At a town hall meeting in late June 2025, community members voiced concerns about noise, traffic, water use, and energy bills, with some passing out stickers reading 'Don't Loudoun my Louisa.' Amazon withdrew in a letter to county leaders on July 23, 2025, citing community feedback. The county has three other data centers in development, none of which required the conditional use permitting process that allows community input.
Louisa County residents (Don't Loudoun my Louisa)

Spotsylvania County has approved data centers and is trying to implement regulations (873 acres). In December 2025, the board voted 4-3 to approve design standards requiring special-use permits for data centers in commercial, agricultural, and industrial districts. Vice Chair Lori Hayes, Jacob Lane, and Chair Chris Yakabouski dissented, preferring a stronger SUP (special use permit) requirement. Yakabouski noted Loudoun, Prince William, and Henrico have all moved to require SUPs. AWS has committed $35 billion in Virginia by 2040, including $6 billion for a data center spanning Spotsylvania, Caroline, and Stafford counties. The board signaled it may strengthen requirements further in 2026.

GigaLand withdrew its original datacenter application in Fauquier County, Virginia, after significant community opposition, but resubmitted a scaled-down proposal in early 2026 — reduced by 55% to 998,000 sq ft and 600 MW. The Board of Supervisors remains skeptical of the revised plan. Residents continue to organize against the project, citing concerns about rural character and environmental impacts.

Headwaters Site Development LLC withdrew its rezoning application for a $400M, four-building data center on 67 acres at Catlett Road and Gaskins Lane in Fauquier County on July 15, three days before a scheduled Planning Commission hearing. The project required rezoning from industrial park to business park and faced intense organized opposition over noise, water resources, power demands, and environmental conservation. Part of a broader wave of data center resistance across northern Virginia's rural counties.

The Goochland County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on November 6, 2025 to approve the Technology Overlay District (TOD) and Technology Zone after a 6-hour meeting where 80+ residents spoke in opposition. The TOD stretches from I-64 about 5 miles down Route 288 to Patterson Ave, designed to attract data centers and energy-intensive projects. Critics argued the process lacked transparency, expanded beyond the original West Creek footprint, and placed industrial uses next to approved residential areas. In December 2025, four citizens outside the TOD boundaries filed a lawsuit in Goochland Circuit Court appealing the ordinance adoption. New Kent County is now mulling a similar tech overlay district following Goochland's lead.

In June 2025, the Frederick County Board of Supervisors voted by consensus against moving forward with applications for two large data centers: the proposed 644-acre Meadow Brook Technology Park and 105-acre Winchester Gateway 2 (proposed by Winchester Gateway LLC) (749 acres). Over 100 people attended the meeting, most voicing fears over data centers ruining the county's rural landscape. Most supervisors felt too many unanswered questions surrounded the projects' potential effects. The dual rejection was part of a broader wave of Virginia data center cancellations — at least 25 projects were canceled in 2025, nearly four times as many as 2024.

Town of Culpeper, Virginia, approved data center agreements with STACK Infrastructure in October 2025, including an electric service premise agreement and a minimum revenue agreement guaranteeing $1.5M per building per year for 15 years. The Coalition to Save Culpeper organized opposition citing lack of transparency, limited public disclosure, and concerns about the minimum revenue amount. Despite advocacy including Lobby Day in Richmond, the town moved forward with STACK's plans for Culpeper Technology Campus and Cooper Ridge data centers.

Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors voted in March 2025 to end by-right zoning for data centers, requiring all data center applications to undergo staff-level review, a public hearing, and a Planning Commission recommendation. This replaced the previous system where some data centers could be approved administratively. The county has benefited economically from data centers, including a Microsoft complex whose tax revenues helped build a new school, and has reduced residential property and car taxes. Environmental groups have targeted the spread of data center sites in the county.

Orange County adopted new zoning regulations restricting data center development after community opposition. The county initially proposed a 'floating zone' approach that would allow rezoning of any land for data centers with no cap on total acreage — unique among Virginia jurisdictions. The Piedmont Environmental Council and residents demanded commonsense regulations including setback requirements, noise limits, and protections for schools, parks, and homes near proposed sites.

Fluvanna County, Virginia, enacted a moratorium on data center development while studying zoning changes to address proposals spreading from Louisa and Albemarle counties. The Planning Commission voted 5-0 to strip data centers of by-right status in I-1 and I-2 industrial zones, requiring special use permits and full public review. Speakers at the public hearing cited noise, water consumption, grid strain, truck traffic, and the minimal number of jobs data centers produce.

CyrusOne expanding its Whitney/Bosque County data center campus with new buildings DFW17 ($375M, 88,875 sf, Oct 2025-Dec 2026), DFW17B ($500M, 249,090 sf), and DFW17C ($430M, 93,320 sf, Feb 2026-Apr 2027). Combined power agreement with Calpine adds 210MW on top of an earlier 190MW commitment, totaling 400MW — about half the plant's normal output. The first building was 'topped out' in early 2026. CyrusOne signaled phased capacity over several years. Lake Whitney area faces ongoing scrutiny over water use and tax breaks for the project.

Residents filed an Earthjustice-backed lawsuit against MARA Holdings in October 2024 alleging noise nuisance from the 24/7 bitcoin mining operation at Granbury / Mitchell Bend, Texas. In 2025, residents attempted to incorporate Mitchell Bend to gain regulatory power over the mine. MARA filed a 47-page federal complaint in October 2025 in the Northern District of Texas accusing Hood County and election officials of unconstitutional conduct, but Judge Reed O'Connor denied MARA's TRO request to block the Mitchell Bend incorporation election. Voters rejected incorporation 86-52 on November 5, 2025. The Earthjustice noise lawsuit remains active and ongoing into 2026.

Riot Platforms operates a 400-MW bitcoin mining facility in Corsicana (Phase 1 of a planned 1 GW campus) using immersion-cooling technology. Riot now owns 858 acres after 2025 acquisitions. The facility needs ~1.5 million gallons of water/day — roughly an eighth of Corsicana's daily maximum. Riot is drilling wells into the Woodbine Aquifer. An electrician filed complaints to the SEC, Texas AG, and ERCOT alleging Riot is misclassifying its facility as a data center for tax exemptions and misusing public funds. A protest was held at the Navarro County facility. Riot is evaluating converting ~600 MW of remaining capacity to AI/HPC uses. Noise from cooling fans can reach 95 decibels (like standing next to a running motorcycle).

Sailfish Development's Comanche Circle project — 9 data center campuses on ~2,600 acres near Tolar (Hood County, TX) with up to 5GW capacity near Vistra's Comanche Peak nuclear plant — received conditional approval from Hood County commissioners on a 4-1 vote in January 2026 after ~2 hours of pushback. The court required Sailfish to provide a more detailed plan within 45 days addressing drainage, wastewater, landscape, and power generation. In February 2026, Hood County commissioners voted 3-2 against a moratorium on AI/crypto facilities after receiving a letter from Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) warning that Texas counties have no constitutional or statutory authority to impose development moratoriums. The 2,100-acre site sits in a recharge zone for the Upper Trinity Aquifer and Paluxy River watershed (feeding Dinosaur Valley State Park). Could consume up to 1M gallons of water/day at full buildout. Construction expected to begin 2026; data centers operational by 2027.

Sprigg Township, Ohio, trustees in Adams County passed a one-year voluntary moratorium on data centers on March 2, 2026, targeting a proposed facility at the former Stuart power plant site (1,016 acres). The data center, backed by 68 Yards LLC, would start at 100 MW in 2028 and scale to 1,300 MW by 2032 — 31 times Adams County's total current electricity consumption. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already issued a federal permit for the project with conditions to protect endangered bats, mussels, and butterflies, and residents have launched petitions for a statewide constitutional ban on data centers.

Scioto Township trustees in Pickaway County enacted a 12-month moratorium on data center applications in March 2026, joining at least 15 Ohio communities resisting AI industry expansion. The township's existing zoning code contains little to no language addressing large data center facilities. Trustee Wolfe proposed shortening the pause to six months, but other trustees insisted the full year was needed to craft legally airtight regulations for the rapidly growing sector.

Cincinnati, Ohio, City Council enacted an interim development control overlay after discovering data centers are currently interpreted as 'self storage' under existing zoning code, meaning they could be built across six zoning districts containing over 22,000 parcels. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to extend the overlay nine months through February 2027. Mayor Aftab Pureval warned that 'new data centers pose the risk of exacerbating' the city's 'rapidly rising energy costs.' The Department of Planning and Engagement will study peer city practices and develop permanent zoning amendments.

In Lima / Allen County, Ohio, Google, operating through shell company Bistrozzi LLC, is behind a proposed $500 million data center on 200 acres in Lima/Allen County that would include 115 diesel generators emitting an estimated 236 tons per year of nitrogen oxides. Buckeye Environmental Network organized residents to challenge the project, and community members voiced concerns at an EPA public hearing about air quality impacts on the surrounding area. About 50 permanent jobs are promised.

Dexter Township adopted a 180-day moratorium on data center applications via Resolution #26-705, joining at least 19 Michigan communities that have paused data center development. Residents and officials raised concerns about massive water and energy demands, potential cost increases for existing ratepayers, and industrialization of rural landscapes. The moratorium gives the township time to study impacts and draft appropriate zoning regulations.

Zeeland Township's planning commission approved a one-year moratorium on data center applications in early 2026 while developing regulations for large-scale energy projects. The moratorium is part of Michigan's broader data center pushback, with at least 27 communities enacting temporary pauses. The township is simultaneously working on a renewable energy ordinance that must be finalized before any solar or data center permitting can begin.

Deep Green withdrew its $120M downtown Lansing data center application on April 6, 2026, hours before the City Council was scheduled to vote on selling and rezoning the land. CEO Mark Lee notified the mayor and council via email without explanation. The withdrawal followed months of community opposition over environmental impacts, lack of transparency about power sourcing, and whether a data center fit the downtown area. Previously, the planning commission had voted 5-2 to recommend rezoning.

CoreWeave announced a $6 billion commitment to build an AI data center in Lancaster, converting former R.R. Donnelley/LSC Communications printing plants into a state-of-the-art facility co-developed with Chirisa Technology Parks and Machine Investment Group. Phase 1 (100 MW) is under construction with expected completion summer 2027; Phase 2 targets end of 2027 with potential expansion to 300 MW. Approximately 600 construction jobs and 70-175 permanent technical/operational roles are expected. Community concerns about noise, water use, and neighborhood impacts persist.

Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected NorthPoint Development's 1,280-acre, 15-building 'Project Hazelnut' data center campus in Luzerne County after more than 200 residents packed the November 2025 meeting. The campus, planned in three phases in the Humboldt North Industrial Park near Amazon's nuclear data center, would have consumed electricity equivalent to 90,000 homes. Despite the local rejection, the developer continues pursuing state DEP permits with plans for the first five buildings to begin construction in Q4 2026.

KRNL Data Centers, a New York City-based developer, proposed a five-building campus on ~100 acres of conservation-zoned forest in New Castle Township, Schuylkill County. 'Save Frackville' residents presented 81 letters of opposition, noting they would see none of the tax or economic benefits. Supervisors voted 3-0 to invalidate the zoning code portion permitting the project, delaying it 6 months for a rewrite. Part of a regional 'Gold Rush' of data center land purchases across northeast Pennsylvania.

Dorrance Township adopted a zoning ordinance amendment on September 22, 2025, allowing data centers only in industrial zones. Brewster Land Company LLC owns a 155-acre parcel zoned B-2 business highway district and is challenging the ordinance, arguing it doesn't provide a clear path for data centers and effectively blocks development. The zoning hearing board began proceedings in October 2025. After multiple continuances, a hearing was scheduled for May 6, 2026 to determine whether the zoning ordinance unlawfully excluded data centers.

In Pennsylvania, 1778 Rich Pike LLC/Quantm Group filed an exclusionary zoning challenge for 'Project Gold,' a 1,000-acre, 34-building, 1.5GW data center campus ($14.25B) between Clifton and Covington townships along Route 380 in Lackawanna County. Clifton Township supervisors unanimously approved a settlement scaling back the campus but allowing buildings to exceed zoning height limits. A judge vacated the settlement in January 2026 for excluding the zoning hearing board. Residents promise continued litigation.

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, proposed a zoning amendment covering 20 municipalities that rely on county zoning. Defines three data center tiers — Hyperscale (100,000+ sq ft, up to 200 MW), Major (100,000-499,999 sq ft), and Edge (under 99,000 sq ft). Originally mandated 500-foot setbacks, later revised to 2,000 feet for hyperscale/major centers and 1,000 feet for edge facilities. County GIS, Planning, and Zoning Department aims to resolve remaining issues by April 9, 2026.

East Manchester Township approved two ordinances: one regulating siting, design, construction, and operation of data centers; another establishing a data center overlay district near Gravel Hill and Saginaw Road. Requires 55-foot height limit, 500-foot setback, and sound studies. Passed despite opposition from neighbors concerned about wildlife and environmental harm.
East Manchester Township Residents Against Data Centers

Pennsylvania HB 2150 requires data centers to report annual energy and water consumption to the Department of Environmental Protection, while its companion bill HB 2151 directs the Department of Community and Economic Development to create a model zoning ordinance municipalities can voluntarily adopt to regulate data centers. Both bills passed the House Energy Committee on party-line votes of 14-12 on March 9, 2026. The legislation is part of a statewide response to over 50 proposed data center projects across Pennsylvania.

East Windsor, New Jersey, Council voted down a redevelopment plan after a standing-room-only meeting where residents from the Twin Rivers community raised questions about a data center component, warning of grid strain and environmental risks. The debate reflected broader concerns about data centers dominating load growth in the PJM region, where data center demand contributed to $9.3 billion of the $14.7 billion increase in capacity market clearing prices.

New Jersey S3379, sponsored by Sen. Ruiz, requires data center operators to submit semi-annual water and energy usage reports to the Board of Public Utilities for three years, covering total energy consumption, water sources (potable vs. reclaimed), on-site power supplies, and IT equipment usage. Data centers receiving state incentives must additionally report power usage effectiveness and sustainability indicators. Senate Environment and Energy Committee reported favorably 3-1-1; engrossed and sent to Assembly on March 23, 2026.

Frederick County Board of Elections verified 21,029 valid signatures (exceeding the 15,611 required) for a referendum on Ordinance 26-01-001, which would expand the Eastalco data center complex by ~1,000 acres. The bipartisan referendum effort will go to voters in November 2026. The Frederick County Data Center Referendum Committee organized petition drives across the county.
Frederick County Data Center Referendum Committee

Baltimore City (Baltimore Peninsula TIF ban)
Senate President Bill Ferguson introduced legislation banning data center construction on land benefiting from tax increment financing (TIF) in Baltimore City, Maryland, targeting Baltimore Peninsula. Also requires PSC oversight of transmission line projects. BGE subsequently paused its $537M South Baltimore transmission upgrade.

Forsyth Technology Campus
Forsyth City Council voted 5-1 to approve Trammell Crow Company's proposed $8 billion, 12M sq ft, 21-building data center on 1,632 acres despite overwhelming public opposition. Planning & Zoning split 3-3. Projected $224M annual tax revenue. Water usage 1.5M gal/day. The issue defined a Georgia Senate special election as residents mobilized to hold officials accountable at the ballot box.

In Adairsville area, Georgia, Atlas Development sought to rezone 588 acres from agricultural for a $4.5 billion, six-building, 2.27M sq ft data center campus called 'Project Springbank' near Adairsville (proposed by Atlas Development LLC). A 'Stop the Data Center' campaign gathered nearly 1,700 petition signatures, with dozens of signs lining Barnsley Gardens Road. The Bartow County Planning Commission voted 6-1 to recommend denial on April 28, 2025, and Atlas officially withdrew the rezoning application on May 13 before the county commissioner's meeting.

WHP Development proposed a $6 billion, 500MW data center on a 486-acre former WWII ordnance works and Manhattan Project industrial park along the Coosa River in Childersburg, Alabama, (population 5,000). The site was placed on the EPA's national priorities list in 1987 due to munitions contamination and widespread asbestos, though cleanup has been stop-and-go. The City Council unanimously approved zoning modifications for a planned unit development, and the mayor signed a confidentiality agreement with the developer. The NAACP and Southern Environmental Law Center have raised concerns about environmental justice given the contaminated site and nearby communities.

Compass Datacenters' $10 billion hyperscale campus in Meridian was named '2025 Worst Economic Development Deal of the Year' by the Center for Economic Accountability. The Texas-based firm received a decade of state sales, use, corporate income, and franchise tax exemptions plus a 66% local property tax break for 30 years, yet many details remain hidden behind state secrecy -- even a county supervisor reported receiving no firm fiscal projections 10 months after groundbreaking. At full 500MW capacity on 303 acres, Mississippi Power delayed coal plant closure to supply the campus, which will house eight single-tenant data centers.

DC Blox is building a scaled-down 10 MW data center in Palm Coast (Flagler County, FL) Town Center, kept under 40,000 sq ft to bypass public planning board reviews. Construction on the project ('Project Orchid') is likely to begin at end of 2026, operational by 2028. The facility serves as an undersea cable landing station via Flagler Beach. Google announced Sol, the only in-service fiber-optic cable between Florida (Flagler Beach) and Europe (Spain), connecting at the DC Blox Cable Landing Station. The project operated under state confidentiality law for two years before FlaglerLive obtained construction documents through repeated FOIA requests. Florida Project Tango (separate, S Florida) is also moving forward despite backlash, and Florida SB 484 aims to protect Floridians from data center costs.

In Florida, HB 1007 would establish a restrictive regulatory framework for hyperscale data centers (25+ MW). Bans data centers from agricultural zoning districts, requires 500-foot setbacks, bans economic incentives, imposes water permitting restrictions. Session ended without committee action. Despite opposition, the community was unable to block the project.

Arizona SB 1463 (Sen. Priya Sundareshan, D - Senate Minority Leader) would repeal the state's transaction privilege and use tax exemption for qualifying large data centers. Gov. Katie Hobbs called for the repeal in her January 2026 State of the State address — despite having voted for the original tax break as a state senator in 2013. Hobbs's plan also proposes a penny-a-gallon fee on data center water use. Rep. Neal Carter (R-San Tan Valley) sponsored a House companion to sunset the exemption. The Department of Revenue estimates the incentives cost the state ~$38M/year. A two-thirds supermajority is required to repeal a tax incentive, making passage difficult despite some bipartisan support. Gov. Hobbs called for repeal in her State of the State address and proposed a penny-per-gallon fee on data center water use ($6.5M/year for water conservation). The exemption costs $38.5M/year (up from $1.4M in 2020, projected to reach $60M+ by FY2027).

SB2653 creates the Tennessee Data Center Impact Review Act, establishing a formal review process for data center impacts on communities, environment, and infrastructure. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections across eight titles and was introduced February 2, 2026 with companion bill HB2392. It was deferred in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to March 17, 2026, while HB2392 was placed on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee calendar for March 18.

Wisconsin (AB 840 / SB 843 GOP regulation)
Wisconsin AB 840 / SB 843 (Rep. Shannon Zimmerman R-River Falls, Sen. Romaine Quinn R-Birchwood) — a GOP-led data center bill — passed the Assembly in January 2026 by a 53-44 mostly party-line vote (2 Democrats yes, 1 Republican no). The bill would have prevented data center operators from passing energy costs onto residential consumers, required them to pay for their own generation/transmission infrastructure, mandated closed-loop water systems, required annual water use reporting, and required reclamation bonds. However, the Wisconsin Senate adjourned without taking up AB-840 — or any data center regulation bill — on the floor. Democrats and several construction unions opposed the bill due to lack of prevailing wage requirements and concerns over energy consumption. The competing Democratic Data Center Accountability Act (SB 729/AB 722) by Sen. Habush Sinykin and Rep. Stroud, requiring 70% renewable sourcing and a new very-large-customer rate class, was heard in the Senate Utilities Committee on Feb 17, 2026 but never advanced.

Wisconsin (SB 729 / AB 722 Dem regulation)
Wisconsin SB 729 / AB 722, the Data Center Accountability Act, authored by Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin (D-Whitefish Bay) and Rep. Angela Stroud (D-Ashland), would require data centers to source at least 70% of electricity from renewables to qualify for state tax exemptions, create a 'very large customers' rate class with rate cases every 2 years, and provide transparency on water and energy use. SB 729 was introduced Dec 2, 2025 and got a Senate Utilities Committee hearing Feb 17, 2026. AB 722 (the Assembly companion) was introduced Dec 3, 2025 and is awaiting a hearing. Neither bill advanced before the Senate adjourned, leaving Wisconsin without statewide data center regulation.

Indiana HB 1210 was signed into law March 12, 2026 by Gov. Braun. The data center incentive provision was drastically watered down in private meetings between legislators and data center lobbyists. What was pitched as 1% of electricity costs (potentially $5M/year for a large facility) was cut to at most 1/14th of that — 'not more than' one penny per dollar of the 7% sales tax exemption, capping payments at ~$350K/year instead of the original $5M minimum. The final deal essentially gutted community benefit payments while preserving the industry's tax breaks.

Ohio House passed HB 646 on March 18, 2026, creating a 13-member Data Center Study Commission to examine impacts on environment, electrical grid, consumer utility rates, farmland, local economy, noise, and light pollution. Report due within 6 months. Now heads to Ohio Senate. The House also delayed a vote on overriding the data center tax exemption.

A Hopkins County District Court judge issued a temporary injunction against power system construction at the Sulphur Springs AI data center site, preserving 5,000 acres at the heart of a lawsuit. Vistra Corp./Luminant Mining, former landowners, argue the city breached deed restrictions prohibiting energy production/storage on the land. The judge denied the city's motion to dismiss. The Texas AG sided with the city, but construction remains halted pending resolution.

Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-3 to reject a 936-acre hyperscale AI data center zoning change from Low Density Single Family to General Industrial, requested by Hugo Reed and Associates on behalf of Texas Solar Works. The site is off Northeast Loop 289, and the facility would require significant power from ERCOT lines, solar, and gas. About 10 north and east Lubbock residents objected to the project, citing environmental burdens on neighborhoods already surrounded by industrial neighbors. The developer withdrew and plans to revise the proposal to better align with community feedback.

San Antonio City Council is pursuing zoning code amendments to regulate data center growth. The Southwest Workers Union organized a 'Data Center Rebellion Convening' where over 60 organizers from across Texas gathered for two days to share tactics in fighting data centers. Organizers from San Marcos (successfully blocked a $1.5B DC), Taylor, and Tucson shared strategies. The convening reflects a growing coordinated grassroots movement across Texas. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones supports expedited regulation.
San Antonio Residents Concerned About Data Centers

Misae Investments' Mojo Ranch project proposes a renewable energy and data infrastructure hub on 2,742 acres near Stockdale, including utility-scale solar, battery energy storage, and AI data centers. Site work with tree clearing has already begun. Commercial operation is targeted for June 2028. A new group, Protect Wilson County Water, formed in February 2026 with nearly 150 residents attending a meeting to discuss water use, air emissions, and lack of transparency. Developer Miguel Oneto cited Wilson County's grid interconnection potential and 'welcoming community.'

EdgeConneX (Herndon, VA, working with Rackspace Technology) is building a $1.4B+ data center campus in Cedar Creek (Bastrop County, TX) at FM 535 and Wolf Lane. First building of 4 (578,000 sq ft, $440M) targeted for June 2026 completion. Project DFW33220N total: 2.8M sq ft over 5-8 years. As of late March 2026, EdgeConneX announced plans for a SECOND data center campus in Bastrop County on a 180-acre property at 6682 FM 535 in Cedar Creek. Bastrop County hired PFM Group Consulting in March 2026 ($109K not-to-exceed) to analyze the long-term impact on the county's tax base. Residents continue to weigh impacts.

Cascade Township Board voted unanimously on February 26, 2026 for a 6-month moratorium on data center permits, with an option for a 6-month extension. The action was preemptive — no data center proposal was pending — as a growing conversation about data center development spread across West Michigan. The board created a subcommittee to lead fact-finding on data center impacts and study zoning amendments, amid concerns the township lacked specific protections against large-scale data center facilities.

In Gaines Charter Township, Michigan, Microsoft seeking to rezone 356 acres (purchased from Steelcase for $45.3M) for data center. Dec 2025 hearing canceled when 250+ overflowed venue. Microsoft terminated NDAs with Gaines and 3 other West MI communities in March 2026. Planning Commission hearing expected April. A petition gathered 415 signatures. Key concerns driving this action include community impacts. The community successfully achieved its objective.

In Florida, SB 484 would establish a regulatory framework for hyperscale data centers. Requires PSC to ensure data centers pay their own utility costs. Prohibits certain NDAs. Preserves local government land use authority. Passed both chambers March 13, 2026 in weakened form; signed by Governor DeSantis, effective July 1, 2026. Major provisions include separate utility rate class and transparency requirements. Governor DeSantis signed SB 484 on March 24. Effective July 1, 2026.

In Newton County, Georgia, Board of Commissioners unanimously enacted 30-day moratorium on data center applications. Existing ordinance limits DCs to Stanton Springs overlay, but development creeping into incorporated areas. Moratorium extended through April 8, 2026 (originally 30 days). Staff reviewing development ordinances. Data centers have crept into incorporated areas like Covington, Social Circle, and Porterdale through city annexation.

MDEQ Permit Board granted air permit for 41 gas turbines powering xAI's Colossus 2 on March 10, 2026, despite 300+ opponents at the February hearing and zero public support. 27 turbines were already operating without permits. On April 9, 2026, the Southern Environmental Law Center filed an appeal on behalf of NAACP, Young Gifted & Green, and Safe and Sound Coalition challenging the permit. The appeal argues the permit fails to show pollution won't harm air quality, underestimates emissions, doesn't require offsets, and ignores xAI's existing operation of unpermitted turbines. The facility would be the largest industrial NOx source in the 11-county Memphis metro area.

In Louisiana, LPSC refused to investigate Meta's sale of 80% of its $27B Richland Parish data center to Blue Owl Capital. Meta retains only 20% stake with a 4-year lease. Earthjustice/UCS warned ratepayers could be stuck paying for 3 new Entergy gas plants if Meta exits. The project involves 2250 acres. Opposition was led by Alliance for Affordable Energy and Union of Concerned Scientists. Key concerns driving this action include energy grid strain. The outcome remains pending.

Hut 8's $10B River Bend AI data center campus in West Feliciana Parish received zoning approval from the Parish Planning and Zoning Commission (611 acres). Phase I: a 245 MW facility leased to Fluidstack for $7B over 15 years, with Fluidstack holding a right of first offer for up to 1,000 MW additional capacity. Hut 8 secured 330 MW initial utility power from Entergy Louisiana. Construction is underway with operations expected Q2 2027. The deal could net the parish $90M annually.

Federal (HR 6984 Data Center Transparency Act)
HR 6984, the Data Center Transparency Act, was introduced January 8, 2026 by Rep. Robert Menendez (NJ) and Rep. Greg Casar (TX), referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee. Requires EPA to submit quarterly reports to Congress on data center water and energy use (including reuse, pollution discharge, impacts on local water supplies); requires the EIA to collect total energy consumption data every 6 months for each U.S. data center and report to Congress. Introduced alongside the PRICE (Preventing Rate Inflation in Consumer Energy) Act. As of early 2026, bill remains in committee but transparency-focused legislation faces less industry opposition than substantive regulation.

Georgia HB 559 would accelerate the sunset date for the state's data center sales and use tax exemption program, ending tax breaks for new data centers by 2026 rather than the originally scheduled later date. The bill is part of a wave of Georgia legislation targeting data center incentives in the 2026 session, alongside SB 410 (which passed the Senate to repeal exemptions entirely) and HB 1063 (which passed the House 159-5 requiring data centers to pay infrastructure costs).

SB 408, sponsored by Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta), would move the sunset date for Georgia's data center sales and use tax exemption from January 1, 2032 to January 1, 2027, effectively ending the incentive five years early. It is one of several bills introduced in the 2025-26 session targeting the exemption, including SB 410 (immediate repeal) and HB 559 (sunset December 31, 2026). A state audit found the exemption has cost Georgia significant revenue while creating relatively few jobs per dollar of tax benefit.

In Idaho, H 820 would revise data center sales tax and property tax exemptions. Requires qualifying businesses to receive electricity under rate schedules that fully recover all utility costs. Mandates written notice to local water providers and Department of Water Resources detailing anticipated water consumption needs.

Idaho HB 756 (Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen R-Idaho Falls), introduced February 2026, would prohibit the Idaho PUC from approving any new customer requiring 20+ MW of electricity from the state's three regulated power companies without a 'no harm' test proving it would not require raising rates for other customers. The test analyzes grid reliability impacts, infrastructure needs, and risks. The bill raises the large-load threshold from 10 MW to 20 MW and exempts longstanding high-power consumers (existing customers with >50 MW demand as of Jan 1, 2000, like Micron Technology). HB 756 received House State Affairs Committee approval to be introduced in late February but had not yet been scheduled for a public hearing as of late February 2026. A separate bill on data center water consumption has also advanced.

Florida SB 1517, 'Approval of Data Center Facilities,' sponsored by Rep. Joseph, required developers to disclose projected energy, water, carbon emissions, noise, and environmental impacts at application stage, with the Department of Environmental Protection publishing the data publicly. The bill was filed January 9, 2026 and referred to the Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee, State Affairs, and Commerce committees, but died in the Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee on March 13, 2026.

Ohio (tax exemption veto override effort)
Ohio Republican legislative leaders are pushing to override Governor DeWine's veto that repealed data center sales tax exemptions. The proposed override via HB 96 would restore the tax break that DeWine eliminated. The Ohio Farm Bureau issued an action alert urging members to challenge the override, arguing data centers should not receive preferential tax treatment while consuming vast amounts of farmland, water, and electricity. Ohioans for Responsible Development organized opposition to the override effort.

New Jersey (S731/A796 Large Load Tariff)
In New Jersey, S 731 was reintroduced after a Murphy pocket veto. Requires utilities to develop tariff for data centers using 100+ MW monthly. New large load customers must post financial guarantees for 85% of requested service for 10+ years. Reported from Senate Committee with amendments. Key concerns driving this action include ratepayer cost concerns. The outcome remains pending.

CoreWeave received the first award under New Jersey's Next New Jersey AI program: a $250M tax credit ($50M/year for 5 years) for a nearly $1.8B, 250MW facility at the former Merck campus in Kenilworth, purchased for $322 million in 2024 (27 acres). Critics note the program lacks the community benefits agreement requirements mandated by older NJ incentive programs like Aspire and Emerge for projects over $10M. NJ Policy Perspective questioned why the state needs to subsidize a fast-growing AI industry with hundreds of billions in capital investment.

In Maryland, HB 1411 would require large-scale data center operators to report environmental and resource impacts publicly. Mandates jurisdictions with 10,000+ residents create formal data center management plans by 2027. Includes $1,000/MW payment into EmPOWER program for low-income assistance. The outcome remains pending. The community's stated objective was to mandate public environmental reporting from data centers (HB 1411).

Maryland (HB 1595/SB 427 property tax authority)
Maryland HB1595 authorizes Baltimore City and county governing bodies to establish a special personal property tax subclass for qualified data centers and set a rate up to 2.5x the standard real property tax rate. The bill emerged from Frederick County's push for local taxing authority over data center equipment after the county discovered data centers' vast server farms were taxed at the same rate as other business personal property. The legislation was introduced February 15, 2026 and referred to the Ways and Means Committee.

Frederick County (Pippy state moratorium bill)
Frederick County Delegate Jesse Pippy introduced a bill proposing a data center moratorium specifically for Frederick County while the state conducts a comprehensive study of data center impacts. The legislation responds to growing community concern after the Frederick County Council voted 5-2 to adopt a 2,615-acre 'Critical Digital Infrastructure' overlay zone, which prompted residents to launch a referendum petition campaign that gathered over 22,000 signatures. Maryland counties more broadly have been calling on the data center industry to slow down.
Frederick County Data Center Referendum Committee

In Pennsylvania, voluntary executive program offering expedited state permitting for data center developers who commit to bringing/paying for their own power generation, transparency and community engagement, Hiring local workers, and environmental protection including water conservation. Critics note standards are voluntary with no enforcement.

City of Industry's Planning Commission voted in December 2025 to recommend zoning changes allowing data centers citywide (proposed by EdgeCore) (62 acres). City Manager Joshua Nelson wrote in May 2025 that the city was 'working on a change to our code to pretty much allow data centers anywhere.' With fewer than 300 residents, the city faced minimal public opposition. Majestic Realty pitched the Industry Business Center campus for mid-sized (20-80 MW) data centers. A formal proposal for IBC Building 10 was submitted in late 2025.

In City of Oakley, California, Oakley City Council approved the 164-acre Bridgehead Industrial Project on March 11, 2026 in a 4-1 vote, but with an amendment excluding data centers after sustained community opposition. Residents raised concerns about water and electricity demands at public hearings and Planning Commission meetings. On February 9, 2026, the developer (Oxfoot Oakley) agreed to remove data centers from the proposal. The project was approved as a logistics/industrial hub without data center uses.

In City of El Monte, California, On March 12, 2026, the City Council postponed action on data center moratorium evaluation after a verbal altercation during public comment led police to evacuate the chamber. Debate rescheduled to March 18, 2026. City Council unanimously passed a 45-day moratorium on March 19, 2026. Opposition was led by El Monte Neighbors United. Key concerns driving this action include community impacts. The community successfully achieved its objective.

SB 978, the Data Center Community Accountability Act, introduced by Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) on February 4, 2026. Bans new diesel backup generators at data centers in high-pollution zones, mandating clean technologies (hydrogen fuel cells or long-duration battery storage). Requires the PUC to establish a special rate class for large-scale energy users (75+ MW) to prevent cost shifts to other ratepayers. Directs the California Energy Commission to study impacts of large data center loads on decarbonization goals. Mandates prevailing wages and local skilled workforce for hyperscale construction.

Multiple lawsuits surround data center development in Imperial Valley. The City of Imperial sued Imperial County in December 2025 to force environmental review of a $10B data center by Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing LLC. In February 2026, the court ruled the city's CEQA claims were insufficient. In April 2026, the developer filed defamation and civil rights lawsuits against the City of Imperial and environmental activists. On April 2, 2026, a judge denied Imperial's ex parte application to block a county board vote on a lot merger. A case management conference is set for June 2, 2026. Separately, CalEthos is developing a 330 MW, 315-acre project near Niland/Calipatria.

Federal class action lawsuit (Pearson v. Port of Morrow) against Amazon, Port of Morrow and 17 total defendants over nitrate contamination of 634+ domestic drinking water wells in Morrow County, where Amazon operates 13 data centers. On March 31, 2026, Amazon agreed to pay $20.5 million to settle, becoming the first Big Tech company to commit to paying damages related to public health threats from its data centers. Amazon denied any wrongdoing. The settlement funds will support private well and public infrastructure projects. Litigation continues against the remaining defendants including Port of Morrow, Lamb Weston, Madison Ranches, Threemile Canyon Farms, PGE, and Columbia River Processing.

Governor Tina Kotek formally announced the Data Center Advisory Committee on January 20, 2026, with seven members co-chaired by Margaret Hoffmann (NW Power and Conservation Council) and Michael Jung. The committee includes Umatilla County commissioner Dan Dorran, U of O professor Greg Dotson, and energy/business professionals. It will hold at least one public meeting per month for six months, with policy recommendations due to the Governor and Legislature by October 2026. Focus areas include regulations for responsible siting, energy and water supply impacts, and protecting low-income ratepayers.

The Van Hollen Power to the People Act directs FERC to mandate grid operators create specific queues for data center electricity connection requests, encourages states to establish rate classes specific to data centers, and requires data center operators to cover the full cost of generation, transmission, and distribution upgrades. Includes prevailing wage and registered apprenticeship requirements.

In New Jersey, Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed on her first day in office, Declaring a state of emergency on utility costs. Directs BPU to require electric utilities to report on energy requests from data centers ('ghost loads'). Identifies data center demand surge as key driver of NJ's energy crisis. Key concerns driving this action include tax incentive policy and water consumption. The outcome remains pending.

Public Utility Commission of Texas conducting a survey of water use by data centers and virtual currency mining facilities. Authorized by state budget rider from Rep. Armando Walle. Survey asks about direct water use, cooling technology, and indirect water use. Results shared with Texas Water Development Board and TCEQ, due to legislature by end of 2026. Texas has 464 data centers with 70+ under development.

Earthjustice and a coalition of 9 groups challenged the Montana PSC's protective order shielding NorthWestern Energy's data center plans (letters of intent for up to 1,400 MW to 3 developers: Atlas Power, Sabey, Quantica). On March 31, 2026, the PSC ruled NorthWestern doesn't have to turn over additional data center information in its merger case, a setback for transparency advocates. Groups argue Montana's Constitution guarantees the public right to know about utility plans affecting ratepayers.

Harlingen city commissioners voted unanimously on April 2, 2026 to begin the process for a 120-day data center moratorium, the first in the Rio Grande Valley. Two public hearings expected in May and June. The city plans to work with WaterWorks to evaluate water supply impacts, wastewater capacity, and electrical load demands. Driven by months of community pushback over strained infrastructure from proposed data center developments.

New Castle County Council unanimously passed first-of-their-kind data center regulations after 7 months of debate. Requires 1,000-foot buffer from residential zones (reducible to 500 ft with noise study), bans open-loop water cooling (unless using reclaimed water). Notably exempts projects already in the development pipeline, including Starwood's Project Washington. Effective March 19, 2026.

SB 205, sponsored by Sen. Hansen, requires businesses using 100+ MW of electricity (originally 30 MW, amended after industry pushback) to obtain a certificate to operate from the Delaware Public Service Commission. Certificates could mandate grid modernization payments or additional energy generation commitments. The bill remains tabled as Sen. Hansen works through business community concerns and assesses whether sufficient support exists. Delaware could see five new data centers that would double the state's total electricity usage.

QTS Data Centers is undertaking a multi-phase expansion of its 194-acre East Windsor, New Jersey, campus on Princeton Hightstown Road, formerly occupied by McGraw-Hill, with plans for 554,000 square feet of modernized facilities. Residents from the Twin Rivers community packed Planning Board hearings to challenge the expansion, raising concerns about water consumption, energy grid strain, and environmental risks from the facility's growing footprint.

HR 6529 (Protecting Families from Power Price Spikes Act) directs FERC to convene a technical conference within 90 days on how large electricity loads — especially AI data centers — affect residential and small commercial customers' bills. FERC must submit a report with recommendations to Congressional energy committees within 180 days. The outcome remains pending.

The Seneca County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in March 2026 to join Tompkins County in asking the New York DEC to reject TeraWulf's modified water permit for its proposed 400MW AI data center at a former coal plant site on Cayuga Lake in Lansing (183 acres). TeraWulf seeks to withdraw over one million gallons of water per day for cooling, with returned water at elevated temperatures that critics say would encourage harmful algal blooms threatening drinking water and tourism. Local groups have also filed a lawsuit against TeraWulf and the Lansing zoning board.
CLEAN (Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now)

After Natelli Investments withdrew the New Hill Digital Campus application (300MW, 189 acres) on March 5 due to intense community opposition from the Protect Wake County Coalition, the Apex Town Council voted unanimously on March 10 to draft a moratorium. A public hearing is scheduled for April 14, 2026 at 6 p.m. at Apex Town Hall. A one-year moratorium is expected to be approved. Mayor Jacques Gilbert also proposed a non-standing committee to research data center impacts.

In Hanover County, Virginia, Developer Tract proposed the Mountain Road Tech Park — a 427-acre, 900-MW data center campus along Route 33 and Mountain Road near the Hanover-Henrico line (430 acres). The project would include five buildings, requiring up to 600,000 gallons/day of water. The Planning Commission unanimously deferred the proposal. It is being reconsidered at the March 19, 2026 meeting. Planning Commission deferred again on March 19 (second deferral). Rescheduled to April 16.

In Wise County, Virginia, Red Post Energy Group signed a letter of intent with Wise, Virginia, Innovation Hub Venture (OASIS) to develop the Maverick Project — a phased natural gas power plant for a data center complex adjacent to Lonesome Pine Regional Industrial Facility (300 acres). The project comprises nine buildings totaling 2 million sq ft with 600 MW capacity and an on-site gas power plant. Appalachian Voices opposes the project. The complex would create 500-700 construction jobs and 30-50 operations jobs per building.

The Moore County, Tennessee, Metro Council is considering a two-year moratorium on data center construction and expansion, which would take effect April 20, 2026. During the moratorium, the county would stop accepting new applications for special use permits, zoning amendments, and building permits related to data centers. County staff would study potential effects on energy use, water demand, noise, and land use in coordination with local utility providers.

Three citizen groups -- Tucker United, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, and the Sierra Club -- filed an appeal challenging the state Air Quality Board's decision to uphold an air quality permit for the proposed Ridgeline power plant and data center in Tucker County, located between Davis and Thomas (proposed by Fundamental Data LLC). The 500-acre facility would include a natural gas power plant fueling a data center. The appeal argues the WVDEP wrongly classified the facility as a 'synthetic minor source' rather than a 'major source' of emissions.

Vermont H.727, the Sustainable Data Centers Act, sponsored by Rep. Laura Sibilia (I-Dover), regulates 'factory-sized developments' requiring 20+ MW power capacity. Focuses on proper siting, environmental protections, and ratepayer cost controls but applies the same requirements to all data centers regardless of technology or environmental footprint. A companion Senate bill, S.205, would ban data centers over 100 MW until July 2030 pending a Public Utility Commission study.

Rhode Island S2346 establishes 30-year property, tangible, sales and use tax exemptions for qualified data centers. Proposed by Sen. DiPalma (D), who also works as a technical director at Raytheon. Critics argued tech companies would build data centers without incentives; supporters noted 42 other states already offer sales-tax exemptions. Senate Commerce Committee recommended held for further study on March 10 after nearly an hour of floor debate.

Rhode Island S2776 requires data centers needing large amounts of electricity to fund the cost of necessary infrastructure improvements to supply that power, rather than passing costs to existing ratepayers. Rhode Island currently hosts seven data centers, none of which would meet the proposed threshold. Senate Commerce Committee recommended held for further study on March 10, 2026, alongside companion tax incentive bill S2346.

Maine LD 713 would exclude data centers from Maine's Business Equipment Tax Exemption (BETE) program (100% property tax break) and the Dirigo Business Incentives Programs. The bill also requires the Maine DECD to study other state incentives data centers may benefit from. Supported by the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the bill was presented to the Taxation Committee on March 12, 2026. The bill is pending committee action.

Sentinel Data Centers has an agreement to occupy 1 million square feet on two floors of a former paper mill in Jay, Maine, employing 800-1,000 construction workers and 125 permanent staff. The project faces an existential threat from LD 307, a bill advancing in the Maine Legislature that would impose a two-year moratorium on data centers above 20MW. Notably, the developer has not encountered local opposition from Jay residents, partly because the project does not seek special tax breaks.

Northern New England Energy Company is proposing the 'Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus,' a 100-300MW data center covering over 1,000 acres along the Mousam River in Sanford. The developer claims the facility would generate its own power using fuel cells, solar, and battery storage without burdening Maine's grid. The project is threatened by LD 307, a proposed state moratorium on data centers above 20MW. Local residents have raised concerns about noise, environmental damage, and the significant changes a facility of this scale would bring.
Sanford Residents Concerned About Data Centers

After the NE Edge/Millstone nuclear data center project was scrapped, Governor Lamont signaled Connecticut may require new data centers to generate their own power. The state's high electricity prices have made it less attractive for data centers. Only one company has used CT's data center tax incentive since 2021. No moratorium bills introduced.

A massive estimated $10 billion data center project backed by Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and his family is proposed for Butts County as part of the Highway 16 Interstate Health Development near I-75, which would include 11 million square feet of data centers. The project is expected to consume over 4.5 million gallons of water per day, more than tripling Butts County's current water usage. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr accused Jones of using his office to benefit his family's property interests, and environmental advocates have flagged the lack of available information about the facility's cooling technology and energy demands.

Alabama SB265, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre), limits data center tax abatement periods to 20 years starting January 1, 2027, down from the current 30-year maximum. The bill also mandates that large-scale data centers consuming 100+ MW pay state sales and use taxes. The governor may waive taxes for economically struggling counties. Passed the Senate 30-0 on March 13, 2026, with Governor Kay Ivey's support as part of a broader package aimed at lowering costs for Alabama families.

In Alabama, SB 354 would impose a one-year moratorium on construction of new large-scale solar power facilities, Prompted by opposition to a 4,500-acre solar project in Stockton meant to power Meta's Montgomery data center expansion. Exempts TVA solar capacity and projects already under construction. Opposition was led by Stockton Area Residents Against Solar. Key concerns driving this action include environmental impacts and loss of farmland. The outcome remains pending.

Following Governor Jeff Landry's announcement of Amazon's $12 billion investment in three interconnected data center campuses across Caddo, Louisiana, and Bossier parishes, Commissioner Chris Kracman proposed a one-year moratorium on developments using water from Caddo Lake, but the resolution failed to receive a second from any other commissioner. Amazon has pledged to limit cooling water use to less than 13% of the year and invest $400 million in public water systems in the Caddo-Bossier area.

As part of Amazon's $12 billion Northwest Louisiana data center investment, STACK Infrastructure is developing a 1,089-acre 'Highway 3 Technology Park' north of Benton in Bossier Parish, planned for over 1.3 million square feet across six buildings. The Bossier Parish Police Jury scheduled a public hearing for March 18, 2026 -- the first opportunity for public comment since the project was confirmed. Residents have raised concerns about air quality, proximity to homes, water supply, and rising utility costs.
Benton Area Residents Concerned About Data Centers

Florida SB 1118 creates a public records exemption allowing local governments to keep data center siting plans confidential for up to 12 months when requested by the company. A developer's 'proprietary confidential business information' remains exempt until it becomes public or the company stops treating it as proprietary. Includes a 5-year sunset provision expiring October 2031. The bill was enacted alongside companion SB 484, which establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for hyperscale data centers effective July 1, 2026.

UPDATE: Monticello residents rallied against two proposed data centers (600+ acres combined, 4M+ sq ft). An online petition exceeded 1,200 signatures. Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy filed a lawsuit against the city challenging the review process. A Facebook opposition group quickly gained traction. Residents gathered at local parks to distribute yard signs.

CloudHQ's 1.4M sq ft data center at West Creek Corporate Center received preliminary approval from the Chaska, Minnesota, City Council on October 21, 2024, with a 4-1 vote. The lone dissenter was Ward 2 representative Taylor Hubbard. Residents voiced concerns about the 72.5-foot building height (double the 36-foot limit), noise, and neighborhood character impacts. Planning Commission raised issues about unprecedented height and landscaping requirements. Final site plan approval is pending future Planning Commission and City Council review.

The Warrenton, Missouri, Board of Aldermen voted unanimously in January 2026 to approve a conditional use permit for a Crusoe data center on a 340-acre parcel, consisting of two 805,000-square-foot buildings and a 40,000-square-foot administration building. More than 40 residents spoke both for and against the proposal, with opponents raising concerns about noise, light pollution, water supply impacts on aquifers, and the pace of the approval process.

Gateway Digital Campus and Provident Data Centers are seeking to rezone roughly 600 acres of agricultural land near I-44 and Robertsville Road in Villa Ridge, Missouri, for a hyperscale data center, sitting directly adjacent to the Shaw Nature Reserve. The project returned to the Franklin County Planning & Zoning Commission on March 17, 2026 despite being tabled for 6 months in January. Both Gateway and the Beltline Energy project are on the same March 17 agenda, alongside proposed county-wide data center regulations including 400ft setbacks, 800-acre site limits, and sound limits.

The city of Osawatomie, Kansas, entered a pre-development agreement with Alcove Development/Northland Data Centers for a $900 million to $1.1 billion data center project on 115 acres of city-owned land, requiring one million gallons of water and 150MW of power per day. Residents have pushed back, citing the city's aging water infrastructure, fears of noise, and lack of community input. The Miami County Commission is considering a temporary moratorium countywide while proper regulations are developed.
Osawatomie Residents Concerned About Data Centers

LB1261 was signed April 10, 2026, allowing private developers to build and own power plants to serve large-scale electricity users like data centers, and prohibiting Nebraska's public power utilities from using eminent domain to acquire such plants. Connected to Google's proposed Nebraska data center that could require 1,000-3,000 MW (3x Lincoln's peak demand). The Legislature passed it 34-7 despite opposition arguing it fast-tracks a new business model threatening Nebraska's land, water, and utility rates.

The Troy, Illinois, Planning Commission approved a six-month moratorium on data processing centers in March 2026, following the collapse of Cloverleaf Infrastructure's proposal for a 1.4-million-square-foot hyperscale data center sited less than a mile from neighborhoods, daycares, and senior living facilities. Hundreds of residents packed a meeting at Triad High School in February to challenge the project. The moratorium prevents new data center applications while the planning commission strengthens zoning ordinances. Troy Planning Commission approved a six-month moratorium on data processing centers on March 13, after Cloverleaf Infrastructure's 500MW proposal collapsed following massive public opposition. Hundreds of residents packed Triad High School in February. City Council final passage expected March 16.

HydraVault received a full building permit from Chicago, Illinois, to construct a 76,000-square-foot, 20-megawatt AI data center at 2538 S. Wabash Avenue in the South Loop. Residents reported opposition due to energy consumption, water use, and the lack of public hearings — the project was classified as a 'minor change' by zoning officials, bypassing community review.

After a nearly six-hour contentious city council meeting, Yorkville, Illinois, approved Pioneer Development's 'Project Cardinal' — a 1,037-acre, 1.8-gigawatt data center campus with 14 buildings totaling 17 million square feet, plus a $51 million upfront payment. Residents spoke against it, citing water usage, noise, air quality, and property value concerns. Yorkville City Council approved Project Cardinal at 12:51 AM on March 12 after a nearly 6-hour contentious meeting. The 1,037-acre campus (Pioneer Development LLC) includes 14 buildings totaling 17M sq ft. Development agreement includes $51M in upfront payments over 4 years and $68.25M directed to the school district ($91M total). First data center operational by 2029.
Block Project Steel and Project Cardinal

Cloverleaf Infrastructure has been in detailed discussions with Edwardsville, Illinois, officials since mid-2025 about a data center south of New Poag Road. Obtained emails revealed extensive behind-the-scenes planning despite public assurances of 'no formal proposal.' Residents for Responsible Growth organized a meeting of nearly 300 people in March 2026.

Sprigg Township, Ohio, trustees passed a 12-month voluntary moratorium on data centers in late February 2026, in response to a proposed facility near the former Stuart power plant requiring 1,300 megawatts — 31 times Adams County's annual power consumption. First of two Adams County localities to act, followed by Monroe Township.

Ashville, Ohio, Village Council unanimously passed a 180-day emergency moratorium on December 20, 2025, in response to EdgeConneX's proposal on 680 acres including an on-site 200-megawatt natural gas power plant. Residents lined yards with 'No Data Center' signs. EdgeConneX withdrew its annexation application but reportedly already holds land zoned for data center use.

Columbus City Council held hearings in March 2026 examining rapid data center growth in central Ohio, with large facilities potentially requiring up to 5 million gallons of water per day. Of 130 data centers in the area, only 18 fall within city limits, limiting regulatory authority. Some councilmembers called for a moratorium though no legislation has been introduced.

Senate Bill 969, authored by Sen. Andre Jacque (R-New Franken), would prohibit NDAs between data center companies and municipalities, while still allowing withholding of genuine trade secrets. The bill was prompted by a Wisconsin Watch investigation revealing at least four communities had signed secrecy deals hiding billion-dollar data center plans. Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie), author of the companion Assembly bill, called the measure 'really about trust.' Passed Senate Utilities Committee 4-1, but the Senate adjourned the 2026 session without a floor vote.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, City Councilor Laura Bellis proposed a 365-day moratorium on new data center construction citywide (by Meta / Beale Infrastructure). The ordinance would pause acceptance, processing, and issuance of building permits for data centers while a working group studies impacts. The moratorium was heard at the March 11 council meeting and a final vote is scheduled for March 25, 2026. Bellis says not all colleagues are on board. The moratorium would not affect existing Project Anthem ($800M, 340 acres in east Tulsa). Bellis is open to amendments including a shorter duration. Tulsa City Council passed the moratorium unanimously on March 25, amended to 9 months (through Dec 31, 2026). Exempts Project Anthem phases 1-2 and Project Clydesdale.

SB 1488 - Three-Year Data Center Moratorium
SB 1488, sponsored by Republican Sen. Sacchieri, would have imposed a three-year moratorium on data centers with electrical load greater than 100 MW until November 1, 2029. Directed the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to study impacts on water supply, utility rates, property values, and ideal siting locations. The bill missed key legislative deadlines and died without advancing from committee.

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly plan to help a private company find investors/developers for a large data center on borough-owned land was vetoed by Mayor Edna DeVries, but the Assembly voted 6-1 to override the veto on March 19, 2026. More than a dozen people testified against data centers, while about three spoke in support. Opponents cited energy costs (14-17 cents/kWh in Southcentral), tightening Cook Inlet gas supply, and environmental concerns.

Resilient Technology Park Data Center
Shreveport, Louisiana, Metropolitan Planning Commission denied a special use permit for a 2.8 million sq ft Franks Investment Company LLC data center at 7340 Greenwood Road (Resilient Technology Park) on a 4-4 vote on December 3, 2025, after major community backlash over noise, water use (7.5M gallons/day), and environmental impacts. The Shreveport City Council overturned the denial on December 18, 2025 in a unanimous 7-0 vote, and separately approved selling up to 7.5M gallons of water daily to the facility. A subsequent lawsuit was filed accusing the city of violating constitutional obligations.

Hermiston, Oregon, City Council voted in September 2025 to annex 800 acres of land to attract more data centers, with only one councilor (Jackie Linton) voting against. Linton raised concerns about water supply impacts and inadequate review time. Amazon Web Services already has dozens of data centers across Umatilla and Morrow counties and is building two more in Hermiston. The annexation was approved over community objections.

Oklahoma HB 2992, the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act, passed the Oklahoma House 92-2 with overwhelming bipartisan support on March 23, 2026. The bill defines 'large load customers' as new facilities adding 75+ MW and sets guidelines for how electric suppliers address rising energy demands from data centers, crypto mining, and AI facilities. It aims to shield residential and small business customers from higher utility bills tied to data center infrastructure. Now awaiting a Senate vote.

Michigan Senate Bills 761, 762, and 763 (Sens. Rosemary Bayer D-West Bloomfield, Sue Shink D-Northfield Township, Erika Geiss D-Taylor) introduced December 2025. SB 761 bans data centers withdrawing >2 million gallons/day for consumptive use (water that evaporates or doesn't return to systems). SB 762 requires the Michigan PSC to publish annual reports on total energy spending and water usage of data centers. SB 763 prohibits passing infrastructure improvement costs on to residential ratepayers. As of March 2026, none of the bills have passed out of committee. Separately, Reps. Wortz, Fox, and Wegela introduced a bipartisan three-bill House package (the 'Data Center Regulation Act') that would prohibit new data centers from receiving permits or commencing operations until April 1, 2027. Speaker Matt Hall and Gov. Whitmer have not commented, raising doubts about passage.

SB 212 - Right to Compute Act
The Montana Right to Compute Act (SB 212), signed by Governor Gianforte on April 16, 2025, establishes a legal right to own and use computational resources including data centers. The law requires any government regulation restricting computing resources to be 'demonstrably necessary and narrowly tailored,' effectively limiting local governments' ability to restrict data center siting or operations through zoning. The law was enacted without significant organized opposition, representing a setback for community control advocates.

Mississippi SB 3168, enacted July 1, 2025, expands the state's data center tax incentive program. The law grants sales and use tax exemptions to data centers investing $250M+ and creating 35+ jobs at 125% of average state wages, adds electricity purchases to exempt 'state taxes,' provides automatic 10-year extension eligibility for qualifying expansions ($100M+), and excludes cryptocurrency mining. The bill passed both chambers and was signed into law without significant opposition.

Clean Cloud Act of 2025
Clean Cloud Act of 2025 (S. 1475), introduced by Senate Democrats, establishes an emissions standard and fee system for large data centers and cryptomining facilities. Beginning January 1, 2026, the EPA Administrator assesses fees on covered facilities. Region-specific emissions baselines reduce annually by 11% from 2026 through 2034, reaching net-zero by 2035. Facilities exceeding baselines pay a fee starting at $20/metric ton CO2e, rising annually by inflation plus $10. Annual data collection required for facilities with >100 kW IT power. Collected fees: 3% admin, 25% grants offsetting residential energy costs, 70% grants/loans for zero-carbon energy and long-duration storage. As of early 2026, the bill remains in committee with little movement.

EO 14318 - Accelerating Data Center Permitting
Executive Order 14318, 'Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure,' was signed by President Trump on July 23, 2025. The order directs agencies to streamline NEPA reviews, establish new categorical exclusions for data center and energy projects, and designate qualifying projects ($500M+ capital or 100+ MW load) as 'transparency projects' for expedited FAST-41 review. It authorizes use of federal land for data centers, with DOE selecting four initial sites, and directs the Commerce Department to provide financial support including loans, grants, and tax incentives. The order was enacted without Congressional action.

Virginia HB 784 provides additional transparency by requiring an annual report disclosing information about each data center operator that receives a sales tax exemption, including whether they've met job and investment goals. Part of Virginia's massive 2026 legislative push: lawmakers considered 61 data center bills, sent 15 to the governor's desk, and carried over 46 to 2027. As of late March 2026, the data center tax exemption (~$1.6B/year) remains unresolved as the Senate seeks to eliminate it entirely while the House wants to tie it to environmental compliance. This budget standoff has delayed the state budget; a special session is set for April 23 to resolve the issue. Among bills passed: HB 507 (Tier IV generators required for new data centers, awaiting governor) and HB 1393 (rate-recovery for new generation costs from large electric demand customers).

SB 393 - Virginia's Great Outdoors Act
Virginia SB 393, the Virginia's Great Outdoors Act (companion HB 641), was defeated in February 2026. The bill would have created a $250M/year dedicated funding stream for land conservation, public lands, trails, and outdoor recreation funded by a $3/sq ft annual tax on data centers above 25,000 sq ft. The Senate Finance Resources Subcommittee voted to 'carry over' SB 393, delaying it indefinitely. Both HB 641 and SB 393 have been defeated. The proposal would have established Virginia's largest-ever conservation fund, including a Virginia Tribal Commitment Fund, and was supported by PEC, NVCT, and conservation groups statewide.

Prohibits Virginia utilities from recovering costs of transmission lines and energy generation serving data centers over 100 MW from residential ratepayers. Aimed at addressing the $4.4 billion in data center transmission costs borne by customers across seven PJM states in 2024 alone. House subcommittee recommended continuing to next session. Part of a broader package of 2026 Virginia data center bills targeting ratepayer protections and industry accountability.

Illinois SB 2182, sponsored by Sen. Elgie Sims Jr. (D), would require data centers receiving state tax credits to enter into labor peace agreements with unions representing workers who operate and maintain critical systems. Under LPAs, employers agree not to interfere with unionization efforts while unions agree not to strike. The bill would add labor requirements to Illinois's existing Data Center Investment Program and is advancing through the Senate.

In Virginia, Henrico County's Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously denied Centra Logistics' vested rights claim for a data center complex on nearly 200 acres along Darbytown Road in the Varina district on Feb. 26, 2026. CEO David Wagner had filed the claim in October 2025, Arguing the company had a right to build under the pre-June 2025 rules. But a key factor was that Wagner did not purchase the site until November 2025 -- a month after filing his claim. The company had previously withdrawn its provisional use permit application. Henrico adopted new rules in June 2025 requiring all hyperscale data centers to go through public hearings. Centra may appeal to Henrico Circuit Court.

Reston-based developer WestDulles Properties filed an appeal in March 2026 of Chesterfield County staff's determination that a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is required before its 170-acre data center development at 1500 Battery Brooke Parkway in the James River Industrial Center can be built. Chesterfield Planning Director Andy Gillies determined the project requires a CUP as of January 1, 2026 under the new zoning ordinance making data centers conditional uses in industrially zoned land. WestDulles argues no CUP is needed because the site is zoned I-3 Heavy Industrial, where data centers were a by-right use under the previous ordinance. The matter is slated to go before the Chesterfield Board of Zoning Appeals in May 2026. Mass-grading plan was received by the county in fall 2025.

Powhatan County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on Oct. 29, 2025 to approve rezoning of approximately 61 additional acres to expand the planned Province Group data center campus from 120 to 181 acres (1.5M to 2M sq ft). This came despite the Planning Commission's unanimous recommendation of denial on Oct. 7. The $2.7B campus near the Powhatan-Chesterfield line could eventually house up to four data center buildings requiring 300-400 MW of power and a new substation. Estimated annual tax revenue at full build-out: $9.7 million. The original 120-acre campus was approved 3-2 in October 2024.

Ashton Avenue Data Centers
Amazon proposed three 110-foot-tall data center buildings totaling nearly 1.1 million sq ft on 52 acres along Ashton Avenue near Manassas Mall, sandwiched between three schools and a townhome development. The Prince William County, Virginia, Planning Commission voted 6-1 in June 2024 to recommend denial due to noise, wildlife, and neighborhood proximity concerns. The Board of County Supervisors shelved the proposal indefinitely in October 2024 and it was deferred again in January 2025 to a date uncertain. Amazon maintains it still plans to build on the site but no hearing date is set.
Coalition to Protect Prince William County

DeKalb County (nuclear data center regulations)
DeKalb County, Tennessee, Commission is considering data center regulations proposed by County Mayor Matt Adcock after receiving an inquiry about locating a nuclear-powered data center in the county. The proposed resolution would prohibit data centers within 5,000 feet of residences, schools, daycares, parks, churches, commercial, or industrial establishments. Applicants would need permits with appeal rights. Commissioner Tom Chandler called the resolution 'a sham' arguing the 5,000-foot restriction makes permit approval impossible anywhere in the county. The action was tabled to allow public input; no final vote recorded.

Would restore local government control over data center siting in West Virginia, reversing HB 2014 — the Power Generation and Consumption Act signed by Gov. Morrisey — which allows data centers to operate on independent microgrids and strips counties of jurisdiction over siting and size. Tucker County residents pushed for the bill amid growing backlash over development in their communities. Never received a committee hearing during the session that ended March 14, 2026.

The Virginia Senate budget proposes accelerating the data center tax exemption sunset from 2035 to January 2027, which would redirect $1.6B/year to tax rebates, transportation, and water infrastructure. The House budget preserves the exemption but adds clean energy requirements. The Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition, Piedmont Environmental Council, and Good Jobs First are pushing for the accelerated sunset. The General Assembly reconvenes April 22 to resolve the stalemate.

The Maricopa County, Arizona, Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a modernized zoning ordinance establishing specific rules for data center development, effective January 9, 2026. The new rules limit data centers to two industrial zoning districts (IND-2 and IND-3), requiring full rezoning for any other land.

In Colorado, CoreSite is building a 600,000-square-foot data center in Elyria-Swansea, One of the most polluted zip codes in the country (80216), which proceeded as a by-right use without community review. Hundreds packed a February 2026 meeting demanding transparency, and delivered a 'Good Neighbor' proposal. Denver's mayor subsequently joined calls for a moratorium.

Tucson is developing a Unified Development Code amendment to regulate data centers. The proposed amendment defines data centers, requires demonstration of adequate water supply, expands public notification requirements (half-mile radius vs. current 400 ft), and mandates developer-hosted neighborhood meetings. Public comment period closed end of March with strong participation. City leaders discussed proposed regulations at their April 6 study session. Dozens of residents turned out to oppose large-scale data centers at earlier public meetings.

Despite community opposition from RAZE and the Ak-Chin Indian Community, Pinal County, Arizona, approved three major data center projects in November 2025 totaling ~3,900 acres, including the $33 billion Vermaland 'La Osa' project near Eloy. Residents raised concerns about desert water use, noise, cultural impacts to tribal land, and infrastructure strain.

In Iron County, Utah, 350+ residents packed Festival Hall on March 5, 2026 for a hearing on the Antelope Data Center proposed for 640 acres on Antelope Springs Road, 15 miles NW of Cedar City. Of 15+ speakers over 2 hours, only one supported the project. Concerns: water (2.6M gallon initial fill), utility prices, farmland loss, noise, pollution.
Iron County Citizens for Responsible Growth

Millard County, Utah, Commission approved rezoning of 4,400+ acres from agricultural to forest/range for Creekstone Energy solar farm to power AI data centers, despite resident opposition. Concerns about ruining land's multipurpose use, visual impact, and long-term consequences. The project involves 4400 acres. Opposition was led by Millard County Residents Against Solar Farm. Key concerns driving this action include environmental impacts and noise impacts.
Millard County Residents Against Solar Farm

Two lawsuits filed against Doña Ana County, New Mexico, over 'Project Jupiter' — a 1,400-acre data center complex near Sunland Park with $165B in Industrial Revenue Bonds (by OpenAI). Empowerment Congress and NMELC allege Open Meetings Act violations and improper LEDA tax rebates. Project includes natural gas power plants and desalination plant. Could emit more greenhouse gases than Albuquerque and Las Cruces combined.

In Arizona, HB 2795 would prohibit counties (<500K pop) from denying zoning approval for small modular reactors after federal design certification and site permitting. Allows SMR construction colocated with large industrial users (data centers) without ACC environmental compatibility certificate. Cleared House on party-line vote Feb 26, advancing to Senate. Gov. Hobbs vetoed similar bill in 2025.

CyrusOne filed plans for a 400-megawatt data center campus in Whitney, Hill County, with an initial $750 million building due by October 2026. Residents packed a town hall citing water use from Lake Whitney (a petition with 6,000 signatures), noise, and tax abatements. The opposition has become a key issue in the 2026 Republican primary for Texas Senate District 22.

Amazon is building a 1-million-square-foot data center on 1,800 acres at the Keystone Trade Center in Falls Township, Bucks County, fast-tracked through Governor Shapiro's PA Permit Fast Track Program. Falls Township Residents Against Data Centers organized opposition, citing energy grid strain, increased electricity rates, and diesel generator impacts. A regional survey found 42% of SE Pennsylvania residents object to data centers vs 34% in support. The project was approved despite community concerns.
Falls Township Residents Against Data Centers

Bryan, Texas, City Council proactively annexed 162 acres near the RELLIS campus and adopted a Planned Development zoning district allowing data centers with stricter-than-normal standards including increased setbacks, noise requirements, and screening specifications. No data center project has been formally proposed yet. The preemptive zoning measures represent a community win in establishing regulations before development pressure arrives.

The Oneonta, New York, Town Board passed a 12-month moratorium on AI data centers in March 2026 after residents presented more than 700 signatures, prompted by Eco-Yotta Inc.'s plans to rezone 150 acres of farmland. This came weeks after the nearby Town of Dryden instituted an outright ban following its own 18-month moratorium.

Verdantas/Shelbourne proposed an 847,000 sq ft data center complex on a 44-acre site at the White Clay Center Industrial Park off Ogletown Road in Newark, DE. The proposal would demolish seven existing buildings and replace them with a three-building data center campus. Site is owned by NY-based Shelbourne (8M sq ft commercial real estate portfolio). The location is outside Delaware's Coastal Zone and is in zoning that already allows data center projects. Critically, the New Castle County Council passed new data center regulations in March 2026 that explicitly do NOT apply to the White Clay project (or other in-pipeline proposals) — only to newly proposed projects. The project remains in early stages of approval.

Grant County Commissioners passed a 24-month moratorium on data centers on March 2, 2026. The Area Plan Commission began drafting ordinance language focusing on transparency, resource impacts, and local benefits, including questions about client disclosure and annual energy/water reporting. Opposition was led by Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana. The community successfully achieved its objective.

795-acre data center (Hillwood/PowerHouse) on south Joliet farmland above depleting aquifer. Plan Commission approved 7-1 despite 4+ hours of opposition testimony. Hundreds packed City Hall. Would be largest data center in Illinois. Plan Commission approved 7-1 on March 5. At the March 17 City Council meeting, a marathon 6.5-hour public hearing forced a recess -- vote delayed to Thursday March 19 due to election day restrictions. Developers promise $100M community contribution, 7,000-10,000 construction jobs, and 700 permanent jobs. Would be the largest data center in Illinois at $20B, 1.8GW, 795 acres. Joliet City Council approved the $20B PowerHouse/Hillwood campus 8-1 on March 20 after a 6.5-hour public hearing. Only Councilmember Suzanna Ibarra voted no.

Lake County, Indiana, Council approved stringent data center regulations: only permitted in industrial zones with special approval, 200-ft setbacks from residential/agricultural, 55dB noise max, underground utilities, decommissioning plans, and annual firefighter training requirements. The project involves 160 acres. Opposition was led by Citizens Action Coalition and Hoosier Action. Key concerns driving this action include zoning concerns. The community successfully achieved its objective.

Sen. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) introduced a package of 6+ bills targeting data center impacts in Ohio: the Data Center Grid Cost Responsibility Act, a Tax Break Ban, the Powering Ohio Communities Act, the Local Development Protection Act, the Power Reliability and Fairness Act, and the Responsible Water Use Act which would cap daily water use at 5 million gallons. The Ohio Consumers' Counsel endorsed the package. The bills are pending committee action.

Thomas County, Georgia, Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on AI data center construction in January 2026. Commission Chair Mark NeSmith said the board was 'certainly not anti-data centers' but preferred to be proactive in protecting the community while gathering more information.

Google proposed a 1GW data center on 546 acres near Irwinville in an agricultural zone. The Irwin County, Georgia, Planning Commission voted to recommend approval on Feb 26, 2026. However, the applicant withdrew the application on March 2, 2026 before the County Commission could vote, without prejudice to filing a similar application in the future. Opposition was led by Suwannee Riverkeeper/WWALS Watershed Coalition and concerned residents who raised alarms about water usage (1M+ gallons/day), impacts on the Alapaha River, noise, and farmland loss. Following the withdrawal, Irwin County began developing a data center ordinance, with a public hearing held March 17.

Clarksdale, Mississippi, Board of Commissioners voted on March 24, 2026, to rezone a 648-acre site between Sunflower River and Roundyard neighborhood from commercial/agricultural to light industrial for a potential data center. The rezoning came with three conditions: a one-time $5 million impact fee, the developer paying for all public utility improvements, and a 1,000-foot setback from residential areas. Earlier board meetings in January were contentious, with the board tabling the vote after a failed motion. No developer has yet filed an application. The site lies along U.S. 278 and Tallahatchie Street, and the vote is described as only 'the beginning of the conversation' about data centers in Clarksdale.

Alabama HB 399, sponsored by Rep. Hulsey (R-Helena), is the House companion to SB 265. Limits tax abatements for data center projects over $200M to 20 years, down from the current 30-year maximum. Requires data centers consuming 100+ MW to pay state sales and use taxes allocated to the General Fund, effective January 1, 2027. Passed House 103-0. Part of a bipartisan effort to rein in data center subsidies after the Meridian Compass deal was named '2025 Worst Economic Development Deal.'

Nobles County Planning and Zoning Commission voted on April 8, 2026 against changing the zoning ordinance to allow data centers as conditional use in agricultural preservation areas, blocking Geronimo Power's proposed data center in Elk Township. After 2+ hours of discussion, 19 spoke in support and 18 against. The Nobles County Board of Commissioners will have the final say.
Nobles County Residents Against Data Centers

The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) filed an appeal against the City of Faribault over an 'inadequate' environmental review of Archer Datacenters' proposal on 87.6 acres. MCEA alleges the developer dropped estimated greenhouse gas emissions by 98% between draft and final stages without explanation, and failed to analyze cumulative impacts from the wave of nearby data center proposals. The appeal is active and pending resolution.

Prince William County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors voted to eliminate by-right approval for data centers in the Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District, requiring special use permits for all future facilities. Republican Supervisor Tom Gordy said the overlay 'has outlived its useful purpose' and suggested ending it outright. The same meeting controversially approved the Hornbaker Road data center outside the overlay in a 4-3 vote despite heated public opposition.
Coalition to Protect Prince William County

Culpeper County, Virginia, unanimously required conditional use permits for data centers on industrial land in September 2025, impacting 3,000+ acres across 140+ parcels that previously allowed by-right construction. Five projects in the Culpeper Technology Zone remain vested. The Piedmont Environmental Council and Coalition to Save Culpeper pushed for the stronger regulations.

GigaLand LLC resubmitted a scaled-down data center proposal near Remington after withdrawing the original in September 2025, reducing building space by 55% (from 2.2M to 998,662 sq ft) and cutting substation capacity from 1.2 GW to 600 MW, with a $3 billion estimated cost on 202 acres. On April 7, 2026, the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors adopted two resolutions targeting Dominion Energy: (1) opposing the Valley Link Joshua Falls to Yeat transmission line project, and (2) demanding Dominion bury transmission lines and reveal its high-load clients (data centers). The Planning Commission had previously recommended denial of the Morrisville substation expansion (4-1 vote).

Authorizes a federal study on the environmental, economic, and public health impacts of data centers, with a focus on communities of color and low-income communities. Requires the Secretary of Energy to conduct the study and report findings to Congress. Endorsed by NRDC, Climate Justice Alliance, GreenLatinos, Food & Water Watch.

In Iowa, originally filed as HF 2447, Renumbered to HF 2690 after committee approval on Feb 23, 2026. Amendment H-8214 filed March 12. Key provisions: quarterly water/energy reporting, public disclosure within 30 days, separate utility rate class for data centers using 20+ MW. Sponsored by Rep. Cindy Golding (R-Cedar Rapids). First-of-its-kind legislation targeting water utilities specifically.

The PRICE Act (Preventing Rate Inflation in Consumer Energy), HR6983, introduced by Reps. Rob Menendez (D-NJ) and Greg Casar (D-TX), would require data center operators to generate all electricity on-site rather than drawing from the grid. The bill mandates 75% renewable energy by 2035 and 100% by 2040, with civil penalties up to $100,000 per day for violations. Endorsed by the Consumer Federation of America and Evergreen Action, the companion Data Center Transparency Act (HR6984) would require EPA and EIA to collect quarterly environmental and energy data from every US data center.

HR 6179, the Clean Cloud Act of 2025, was introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) — the House companion to S.1475 by Senate Democrats. Establishes emission standards for high-demand energy users (data centers and cryptominers). Beginning 2026, mandates collection of detailed electricity usage and emissions data from facilities >100 kW installed power. Beginning 2026, fees on electricity utilities serving these facilities based on GHG emissions, base rate $20/ton above regional baseline, increasing annually by inflation plus $10. Region-specific baselines reduce 11%/year through 2034 reaching net-zero by 2035. Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee. Bill remains in committee with little movement as of early 2026. Companion to Sen. Whitehouse's S.1475.

HR 5227, the Unleashing Low-Cost Rural AI Act (Rep. Moore), would direct the Secretary of Energy to designate a National Laboratory to study the impact of AI and data center site growth on US energy supply resources. Study would identify rural areas poised for tech expansions and assess impact on energy supply, reliability, and consumer costs. Examines whether infrastructure updates are needed to support co-location of AI/data centers, and feasibility of using alternative energy sources (hydroelectric, solar, wind, battery storage, carbon capture, nuclear, geothermal). Bill is in 119th Congress (2025-2026). Awaiting committee action.

DOE Section 403 directive: On October 23, 2025, US DOE Secretary Chris Wright issued a formal directive to FERC under Section 403 of the DOE Organization Act to initiate rulemaking for large load interconnection. FERC issued an ANOPR titled 'Ensuring the Timely and Orderly Interconnection of Large Loads' (Docket RM26-4). The rule would standardize interconnection procedures for data centers and other large loads >20 MW, with 100% participant funding proposed (data center developers pay full cost of grid network upgrades). DOE Secretary Wright directed FERC to finalize by April 30, 2026. ~200 comments received. States and utilities oppose federal jurisdiction expansion.

FERC issued an order in December 2025 directing PJM, the nation's largest grid operator, to establish transparent rules to facilitate service of AI-driven data centers and other large loads co-located with generating facilities. The Commission found PJM's tariff was unjust and unreasonable due to inadequate co-location rules. The order proposes new transmission service types (Firm Contract Demand, Non-Firm Contract Demand, and interim service). Response briefs were due March 18, 2026, and reply briefs are due April 17, 2026 (Docket No. EL25-49-000).

New York S6394A, the Sustainable Data Centers Act, would regulate energy consumption by data centers in the state. The bill requires annual disclosure reporting, prohibits fossil fuel power purchase agreements, and directs the Public Service Commission to establish a surcharge/discount plan. It mandates a progressive transition to renewable energy: 33% by 2030, 67% by 2035, and 100% by 2040. The bill is pending committee action.

New York S8540, the Accountability for Computing and Data Centers (ACDC) Act, would require electric and gas corporations to establish an independent classification of service for large energy use facilities separate from other rate classes. The bill authorizes DPS to develop financial surety requirements and prevents data center costs from being blended into residential rate cases. The bill is pending in the Senate.

In New Hampshire, HB 1724, Sponsored by Rep. Wendy Thomas, Requires public utilities to submit annual reports detailing transmission costs, wholesale electricity market impacts, and generation capacity adequacy, with specific analysis of data center-related demand. Mandates public hearings and review by the state energy agency. Referred to the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee with a public hearing held February 10, 2026.

Wyoming HB0090 would have appropriated $500K to the State Engineer to study how large-scale industrial water use by data centers, carbon capture, and hydrogen projects impacts the state's water supply. The bill advanced 8-1 out of the House Agriculture Committee and received House Appropriations Committee approval on February 16, 2026, but did not pass the full chamber. The study was part of growing concern in Wyoming as data center developers eye the state for its cheap land and energy resources.

In Mississippi, HB 1635 was introduced to redirect 80% of local ad-valorem taxes collected above $1B from large projects (including data centers) into a new state infrastructure and economic development fund, with 20% to local government and schools. Madison County Economic Development Authority director Joey Deason objected to the measure, warning it would slash his county's projected $70M/year in new Amazon data center tax revenue to just $20M/year. The author did not bring the bill to committee vote.

Menlo Equities proposed a data center on 40.6 acres in the Ahwatukee, Arizona, Foothills area of Phoenix. The Ahwatukee Foothills Residents Against Data Centers organized opposition, citing concerns about water use in the desert, noise, and environmental impacts on the residential community. The project remains ongoing with the outcome pending.
Ahwatukee Foothills Residents Against Data Centers

Tract is developing the 2,019-acre Buckeye Technology Park, the largest contiguous data center project in the Phoenix market, located near Palo Verde nuclear power plant and the I-10 corridor in Buckeye, AZ. Could see up to 20 million sq ft of data center space across as many as 40 individual data centers at full buildout. Tract is currently working with the local utility on plans to support up to 1.8 GW of capacity. $20 billion total investment over a 15-year buildout, currently in planning stage. Tract acquired the 2,069-acre site from Arizona Land Consulting for $136M+ (which had bought it for $40M in 2022). Buckeye is considering a development agreement reimbursing Tract up to $50M in public infrastructure improvements (water, sewer, streets, transportation), funded through 20% of tax revenues over 20 years.
Buckeye Residents Against Data Centers (ad hoc)

Oppidan proposed a 5MW data center on a 7-acre site in the Stead area of Reno, Nevada,. The Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter raised environmental, grid, and water concerns. Despite opposition, the project was approved, with community advocates failing to block the permit. The community's stated objective was to deny Oppidan 5MW data center permit in Reno.

DCPC's Summit Ridge Data Center, a 100 MW off-grid natural gas-powered facility in Santaquin, Utah, was approved by City Council in Oct 2024 without adequate public awareness. Residents rallied outside City Hall, feeling 'blindsided.' A Change.org petition has 1,350+ signatures. Concerns about air quality from natural gas generators, noise, and lack of transparency.

Markley Data Center
Lowell City Council voted 10-0 to enact a one-year moratorium on data center development -- the first such moratorium in Massachusetts. Championed by community group 'Honest Future for Lowell.' Aims to give officials time to review zoning rules and understand infrastructure impacts. Markley Group operates an existing data center and plans expansion.

Gibraltar, Michigan, City Council unanimously approved a year-long moratorium in March 2026, freezing a proposed 100 MW data center at the former McLouth Steel site (27800 W. Jefferson Ave.) by Raeden. The facility would consume as much energy as 80,000 homes. Residents and Downriver activists raised concerns about increased electric bills and impacts on nearby Humbug Marsh wildlife refuge. The developer proposed addressing contamination at an adjacent Superfund property and partnering with DTE Energy for on-site power generation.

Scioto Township trustees in Pickaway County enacted a 12-month moratorium on data center development after a heated public meeting (by EdgeConneX). Trustees debated duration, ultimately agreeing a full year was necessary to craft legally sound zoning regulations. Concerns centered on rising residential electricity costs, environmental strain from water usage, and noise pollution. Part of a broader wave across Ohio where generous sales tax exemptions made rural communities prime targets.

The Village of DeForest, Wisconsin, announced on January 27 that QTS Data Centers' proposed $12 billion data center was 'not feasible.' The project required annexing 1,600 acres from the Town of Vienna, but a state Department of Administration report concluded the annexation was not in the public interest, citing concerns about water and sewer services. Village staff recommended rejection and QTS subsequently withdrew.

Constellation Energy purchased over 600 acres near Essex, Illinois, and is seeking rezoning and annexation. Much of the land was sold by village board members or their relatives. The Essex Coalition launched a petition urging industrial protections and is working to revive the village's dormant zoning board of appeals. Constellation has not officially announced a data center but residents fear one is planned given the site's proximity to power infrastructure.

About two dozen south and southwest suburban residents gathered at a Frankfort, Illinois, forum organized by environmental advocates to voice concerns about data center proposals in Joliet, Minooka, Essex, Coal City, and Yorkville. Residents fear higher utility bills, regional power outages, declining air quality, and strained water supplies from the cluster of proposed facilities in the greater Will County area.
Sierra Club Illinois (Heart of Illinois Group)

Kosciusko County, Indiana, Area Plan Commission unanimously denied (8-0) Prologis's rezoning request for 554 acres of farmland near Leesburg from agricultural to industrial for a 10-building data center campus. County Commissioners upheld denial 3-0 on April 22. Over 100 residents attended, and a petition collected 1,000+ signatures. Residents cited loss of farmland and impact on the local Amish farming community.

Washington Township in northwestern Franklin County passed a 90-day moratorium on data centers in unincorporated parts of the township on December 8, 2025. The township also asked the city of Dublin, which the township encompasses, to adopt a moratorium as well. The action follows the broader wave of Central Ohio communities pushing back against the data center boom centered on New Albany.

St. Albans Township, Ohio, held a public hearing on March 10, 2026 on a proposal to become the first township in Licking County to ban data centers. The township sits on the eastern edge of the New Albany data center corridor, home to 40+ data centers in western Licking County. Residents expressed concerns about water and electricity consumption from the nearby facilities. St. Albans Township became the first in Licking County to ban data centers. Public hearing held March 10 with 25 attendees. Trustee Mike Washington read the resolution and opened public comment. A court reporter documented testimony. The ban was approved.

Oppidan, an Excelsior-based developer, paused its data center project in Hampton after citing that the state would take too long to permit backup generators. Minnesota's permitting process for diesel backup generators takes 12-18 months. Amazon also abandoned its Becker data center after regulators required a major state permit for 250 diesel generators.

Two Creeks, along with Two Rivers and Mishicot, held a joint town board meeting and approved identical resolutions calling on Manitowoc County to adopt a one-year moratorium on data center permits and construction, with option to extend 6 months (by Cloverleaf Infrastructure). These three northeast Wisconsin towns acted proactively to prevent data center siting in their communities.
Mishicot-area residents and family farms (ad hoc coalition)

Two Rivers, Wisconsin, joined Two Creeks and Mishicot at a joint town board meeting on February 12, 2026 in approving identical resolutions calling for a one-year moratorium on data center permits and construction in Manitowoc County, with option for a six-month extension. The action came after Texas-based Cloverleaf Infrastructure approached local farmers with offers to purchase land, with one Mishicot farmer reportedly offered $70-80 million for up to 6,000 acres. Over 70 residents attended the joint meeting, and the Manitowoc County Board's Park and Planning Commission took up the moratorium petition on March 30.
Mishicot-area residents and family farms (ad hoc coalition)

Mishicot, Wisconsin, joined Two Creeks and Two Rivers at a joint town board meeting after several hundred people packed the Grey Fox Bar and Grill on January 26, 2026 for an informational meeting on AI data centers, with organizers forced to change to a larger venue due to overwhelming turnout. Cloverleaf Infrastructure and NSI Land Services had been approaching local farmers to purchase property. Town Board Chair Dean Anhalt said residents are concerned about losing rural character and farmland, especially from retired farmers and landowners renting to active farming operations.
Mishicot-area residents and family farms (ad hoc coalition)

The Janesville City Council voted unanimously on Feb 9, 2026 to place a citizen-initiated ballot measure on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. The ordinance, organized by the No Janesville Data Center group, would require voter approval before the City could approve any development on undeveloped portions of the GM/JATCO site exceeding $450M. The 3,927 signatures were certified by the city clerk on January 21, 2026. The measure targets a Viridian Partners proposal to redevelop the site into an 800 MW, 11-building data center campus estimated at $8B. City Manager Kevin Lahner has warned the ordinance is likely illegal and unenforceable, citing 'constitutionality concerns.' The April 2026 council elections heavily centered on the data center question.

The Saginaw area in Michigan is considering a 6-month moratorium on data center development. The Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan and Sierra Club Michigan Chapter organized opposition, raising concerns about the growing wave of AI data center proposals targeting Michigan communities. The moratorium outcome is pending.

Project Marvel (expansion)
Bessemer, Alabama, City Council approved rezoning of 914+ acres from Agricultural to Light Industrial for a $14.5B hyperscale data center on November 18, 2025 (by Logistics Land Investments). Community members filed a lawsuit alleging inadequate public notice and 'arbitrary and capricious spot zoning.' Judge David Hobdy temporarily enjoined the city in August 2025, but the council proceeded with approval. The proposed campus expanded to 1,600 acres in updated plans (February 2026). ALDOT warned of conflicts with Northern Beltline highway plans. The case had a final hearing scheduled March 19, 2026.

Forsyth County, Georgia, enacted a strict data center ordinance that prohibits data center cooling systems from using the county water system, one of the most restrictive approaches among Georgia counties. The ordinance is part of a wave of local regulations across Georgia, with eight counties and cities adopting moratoria or ordinances since March 2025. Separately, a proposed $8.4B data center in the City of Forsyth (Monroe County) would require 1.5 million gallons of water per day, raising infrastructure strain concerns.

The City of Covington, Georgia, council imposed a 180-day moratorium on new data center requests on January 5, 2026 (by 3Rivers Development). During the moratorium, city staff will review current ordinances and make recommendations. Data centers have been seeking to annex into incorporated cities like Covington and Social Circle to bypass Newton County's stricter overlay requirements.
Stanton Springs Data Center (opposition Facebook page)

SC Infrastructure / Technology Park Atlanta
Newton County Board of Commissioners unanimously enacted an emergency moratorium on data center applications in February 2026, joining a wave of Georgia moratoriums. Previously, SC Infrastructure / Technology Park Atlanta proposed a $5B, nine-building data center campus (2.6M sq ft on 317 acres) east of I-20 near Covington. The city of Covington enacted a similar moratorium in January 2026. Georgia state lawmakers debated data center regulation throughout their 2026 session but ultimately failed to pass any legislation.

A 437-acre plot on the outskirts of the 3,000-person town of Hogansville, Georgia, is the center of a Fertile Ground Investments LLC data center debate. Residents are concerned about property values, water and energy consumption, and utility bills. City officials signed an NDA about the project at least 18 months before informing the public, angering residents who demanded transparency.

Hyperion Data Center
Meta (via Beignet LLC / Blue Owl Capital)
Meta's Hyperion data center -- the company's largest -- is under construction in Richland Parish, Louisiana, requiring 2,000 MW and 5 million gallons of water per day from groundwater. Earthjustice filed motions against a risky 'Frankenstein financing' deal that could leave ratepayers paying for 3 new gas plants if Meta exits after 4 years. Low-income families were evicted from a trailer park for worker housing. Median home prices rose 80% since early 2024.

SELC filed a lawsuit in January 2026 on behalf of Colleton County, South Carolina, residents challenging a Nov 2025 zoning ordinance that added data centers as a 'special exception' in rural zones including the environmentally sensitive ACE Basin. Eagle Rock Partners then proposed an 859-acre, 1,000 MW data center complex under the new ordinance. A bipartisan group of state legislators also drafted a resolution urging the county to challenge the project. Nine data centers total have been proposed in the county.

Digital Gateway
Prince William County (Digital Gateway voided)
On August 7, 2025, the Prince William County Circuit Court invalidated the Digital Gateway rezoning approvals, declaring the ordinances 'void ab initio' due to failure to comply with notice requirements. On March 31, 2026, the Virginia Court of Appeals upheld the ruling, also ruling in favor of the American Battlefield Trust's lawsuit that had originally lost at the circuit court level. The 2,100-acre, 37-data-center project by QTS and Compass near Manassas National Battlefield Park is effectively dead. Conservation and community groups urged the county not to appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court, and on April 1, 2026, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted to withdraw from the Digital Gateway lawsuit entirely.

Vantage Data Centers / Stack Infrastructure
Protect Stafford, led by Erin Sanzero, achieved major zoning victories in 2025. After an initial setback in March (4-3 vote against conditional-use permit requirements), the Board of Supervisors adopted comprehensive data center regulations on October 21, 2025, including a 750-foot setback from residential property lines — the largest in Virginia, a 650-foot increase over the previous 100-foot setback. The board also adopted updated Comprehensive Plan guidelines. However, five pre-existing data center projects were grandfathered in December 2025, including Vantage's $2B VA4 campus.

Colossus 2
xAI operated 27 gas turbines at its Southaven, Mississippi, facility without air permits, violating the Clean Air Act according to the NAACP, which threatened a federal lawsuit (by xAI (MZX Tech)). At a 2.5-hour public hearing on Feb 17, 2026, not a single person spoke in favor of xAI's proposed permanent air permit for 40+ gas turbines. Residents reported respiratory problems and headache-inducing 24/7 noise. A local group 'Safe and Sound' documents decibel levels. Despite opposition, MDEQ approved the air permit on March 11, 2026.

Governor Ferguson issued Executive Order 25-05 on February 3, 2025 creating the Data Center Workgroup, convened by the Department of Revenue with 33 members from state agencies, utilities, labor, environmental groups, and industry. The workgroup delivered its preliminary report on December 1, 2025, recommending data centers comply with Washington's 2045 emissions-free electricity mandate. The Washington Legislature punted comprehensive data center legislation to 2027. The workgroup's final report is expected later in 2026 and will inform the next legislative session.

Oregon CUB accused PGE of circumventing the POWER Act (by Portland General Electric). PGE built $174M in substations exclusively for data centers but proposed assigning 47% of costs to residential customers. CUB analysis shows PGE would allocate 34-45% of new supply/transmission costs to households despite data centers driving demand. PUC decision expected April 2026.

The Dalles (HR 655 Federal Land Transfer)
HR 655 would transfer ~150 acres of Mt. Hood National Forest to The Dalles to triple reservoir capacity. Passed House Dec 9, 2025; before Senate Energy Committee. Conservation coalition calls it a 'cynical sweetheart deal' to serve Google's growing water demands. City denies it's for Google but water plan references 'large industrial user' needing ~1M gallons/day.

Ottawa City Council established a 180-day moratorium on data centers across all zoning districts, the first such moratorium in the Illinois Valley. Mayor Robert Hasty cited the need for electrical, water, and sound guardrails before entertaining proposals, noting current zoning provides 'very little regulation' once companies receive state approvals. Commissioner Tom Ganiere supported the measure but urged it not be 'so restrictive that it scares any development away from the city.'

The City of Forney, Texas, is considering new zoning rules that would formally regulate data center development within city limits. A public hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2026 on a proposed ordinance amending Forney's Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. The amendment would include a formal definition of a data center, establish specific development regulations, and require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in several zoning districts. Operational requirements include full enclosure of cooling equipment, generators, and other infrastructure. The Planning and Zoning Commission has already reviewed and recommended approval.

Center for Coalfield Justice led a protest on March 12, 2026 chanting 'Our land, our power, our land, our water' as Washington County commissioners held an invite-only 'Data Center Happy Hour' with developers including Texas-based Prime Data Centers and Florida-based Next Generation Land Company inside the George Washington Hotel. Next Generation proposed a 150,000 sq ft facility in rural West, Pennsylvania, Finley, where residents rely on well water and aquifers. Protesters cited potential impacts on 23 dairy farms and warned data centers could consume up to 5 million gallons of water per day.

Prince William County (Diamond Hill substation)
Prince William County, Virginia, Planning Commission voted 5-3 on March 11, 2026 to deny the Diamond Hill substation — a proposed 300 MW electric utility substation with a collocated Dominion Energy switching station at 13301 Casey Lane in Bristow. NOVEC proposed the facility to power the adjacent Hunter Property data center campus, but it was sited immediately behind the Amberleigh Station residential community. Commissioners cited noise, health, farmland, and historic preservation concerns.

Cambrin LLC, a shell company linked to Meta, proposed a data center on approximately 430 acres in the Town of Beloit, Wisconsin. The 'No Beloit Data Center' opposition group organized community resistance, raising concerns about the project's impact on the community. The outcome is pending. Key concerns driving this action include transparency requirements and loss of farmland.

Brazoria County, Texas, commissioners unanimously rejected a package of tax abatements sought by Nightpeak Energy for its proposed $3.5 billion Old Ocean Data Center campus outside Sweeny, about 65 miles southwest of Houston. The project calls for two 310-megawatt hyperscale data centers paired with two 310-megawatt combustion turbine power plants on a 158-acre site. Each data center carries a projected price tag of roughly $1.5 billion, while the power plants would cost about $250 million apiece. Commissioners declined the incentives after residents and local officials raised concerns about noise, water consumption and power demand. Local opposition partly stems from residents' experiences with another data center in nearby Brazoria that has disrupted the lives of some constituents.

The Texas Public Utility Commission is implementing SB 6 through multiple rulemaking dockets. PUCT Chair Thomas Gleeson proposed rules to pare back proposed requirements for data centers seeking to connect to ERCOT, lowering fees for large loads and adding alternative standards developers can use to demonstrate site readiness. Over 220 GW of large load interconnection requests have been filed with ERCOT (nearly quadrupled from 63 GW a year prior), with 70%+ being data centers. This exceeds twice ERCOT's peak summer demand of ~85 GW. Industry experts warn much of this is 'phantom load' that may never materialize, complicating grid planning. The State Republican Executive Committee passed a near-unanimous resolution calling for 'rigorous independent assessments' and a pause on open-loop water-cooled data centers.

Penzance Development / 1500 Gateway LLC proposed a 600 MW data center on 84 acres in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Residents of the Great Oaks Lane neighborhood objected to the project, citing grid strain and tax incentive concerns. The project was ultimately cancelled, representing a win for the community.
Fredericksburg residents (Great Oaks Lane neighborhood)

The Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 to approve a 571,000-square-foot data center on a 40-acre site along Prince William Parkway near Hornbaker Road. Simultaneously, the board voted 6-0 to initiate a zoning text amendment that would eliminate by-right data center development in the overlay district going forward.

Stack Infrastructure (SAC III Acquisition Co.)
The Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facilities Authority unanimously approved the sale of 2,990 acres at the 3,528-acre Berry Hill Megasite to SAC III Acquisition Co., an affiliate of Stack Infrastructure, for $238,000 per acre. The project is expected to create 2,050 new jobs (avg salary $80,500) and $73 billion in investment over 30 years — the largest project in Southside Virginia's history. First phase closing is expected by June 2027. In January 2026, Pittsylvania County created a new heavy industry zoning district (M-SVMS) providing by-right zoning for data centers at the megasite. Local officials have urged the state to preserve data center tax incentives, warning that ending them would eliminate rural Virginia's opportunity to benefit from the industry.
Coalition for the Protection of Pittsylvania County

Virginia's Democratic-controlled legislature missed a critical budget deadline as lawmakers remain deadlocked over data center tax exemptions. The sales tax exemption cost the Commonwealth $1.6 billion in forgone revenue in FY2025 — up from the $1.5 million originally estimated in 2008. The Senate proposes accelerating the sunset from 2035 to January 1, 2027. The House wants to preserve the 2035 sunset but attach clean energy requirements. Gov. Spanberger sides with the House position. The IBEW has lobbied to protect data centers. SB 253 would allow the SCC to shift electricity distribution and capacity auction costs from residential customers to data centers demanding 25+ MW. Governor Spanberger scheduled a special session for April 23, 2026 to resolve the budget impasse — the data center tax exemption is the single largest fiscal item in dispute.

Valley Link (Dominion Energy / FirstEnergy / Transource Energy)
Central Virginia (Valley Link 765kV line)
Valley Link — a joint venture of Dominion Energy, FirstEnergy Transmission, and Transource Energy — plans a $1 billion, 115-mile, 765-kilovolt transmission line from Campbell County (Joshua Falls substation) to Culpeper County. Opposition continues to intensify across nine affected counties. Orange County Board meeting was packed on March 25; Louisa County officials formally pushed back March 19; Fluvanna County residents opposed March 11; Appomattox County joined opposition. Fauquier County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution opposing the line on April 7, 2026. Opponents argue the line primarily serves Northern Virginia data centers but impacts rural Central Virginia farmland. The SCC filing is planned for approximately September 2026.
Stop MARL Virginia / Stop Valley Link Virginia

Dominion Energy's proposed 944-MW gas peaker plant — the Chesterfield, Virginia, Energy Reliability Center — would be built on the site of a former coal plant retired in 2018, near the Dutch Gap conservation area. The SCC reaffirmed its approval of the project, declining to reconsider. SELC has pivoted to an air permit appeal in Richmond Circuit Court under the Environmental Justice Act, arguing the facility would disproportionately affect nearby communities.

Virginia's DEQ proposed guidance expanding the definition of 'emergency' to include planned utility outages, allowing data centers to run dirtier Tier II diesel backup generators more frequently. Over 500 public comments were submitted, overwhelmingly objected to. VCU research found data center diesel generator emissions in Northern Virginia increased dramatically from 2015-2023: CO up 196%, NOx up 111%, particulate matter up 139%. In a worst-case scenario, backup generators could release 9,000 tons of NOx annually — equal to half of all typical Northern Virginia emissions. Del. John McAuliff (D-Loudoun) introduced legislation requiring data centers to use battery storage first, limiting Tier IV generators to emergencies, and banning Tier II generators entirely. The 2026 legislative session is also considering bills from Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Rip Sullivan to limit diesel generator use at data centers.

Residents of Loudoun Valley Estates in Ashburn challenged a proposed 500-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line connecting Golden and Mars substations, part of a reliability loop to bring more power to data centers on Ashburn's eastern side (by Dominion Energy). Over 1,000 written statements were submitted to the SCC and 500+ people registered to speak. The 165-foot lines require wide clearances, raising health concerns for nearby residents. The Loudoun County School Board voted against routes that would affect school zones. The evidentiary hearing ran January 8-15, 2026. On February 19, 2026, the Virginia Supreme Court affirmed the SCC ruling, allowing the project to proceed as planned. The controversy has pushed Loudoun County leaders to look at moving away from further data center growth.

California SB 978 would establish regulations for large-scale energy users with 75+ MW facilities. The bill requires the California Public Utilities Commission to create special rate structures ensuring these users cover infrastructure upgrade costs and cannot shift expenses to other customers. It also mandates prevailing wage construction standards. The bill is pending in the Legislature.

California SB 887 would remove CEQA exemptions for data centers and only allow gubernatorial certification as 'environmental leadership' projects if they pay full interconnection costs, achieve 100% zero-carbon electricity within 5 years, and implement water-efficient cooling. The bill is pending in the Legislature.

California SB 1168, introduced by Sen. Jerry McNerney, would impose surcharges on natural gas and electricity consumed by large data centers (20+ MW). Revenue from the surcharges would be directed to the California Public Utilities Commission to fund the CARE and FERA low-income rate assistance programs, which serve over 1.4 million Californians. The bill aims to ensure data centers contribute to rate stabilization and prevent their enormous energy demands from driving up costs for residential ratepayers. The bill is pending in the Legislature.

California AB 2619 would establish comprehensive water reporting requirements with three data center size categories: hyperscale (>25 MW), mid-range (2-25 MW), and small (<2 MW). The bill requires water consumption disclosure before business license issuance and directs DWR and CEC to develop best practices by January 2029. The bill is pending in the Legislature.

The Provo City, Utah, Council voted unanimously (7-0) on March 11, 2026 to deny a zoning change for a proposed AI data center at 1507 S. 180 East in the East Bay area. Developer B+F Timpanogos Tech had requested to have property rezoned to an industrial commercial data center overlay zone for a 66,000 sq ft, 30 MW facility on 9 acres. Council members said the city needs to complete its economic development study before making long-term land-use decisions of this nature. Lingering concerns about power consumption and community impact drove the unanimous rejection.

Bipartisan bill HF4077/SF4379 to ban local government officials from signing NDAs with data center developers is advancing through both chambers. The Senate version passed two committees and awaits a floor vote; the House version was pulled back for one more committee (Judiciary). Four legislators from opposite ends of the political spectrum held a joint press conference on April 8 promoting the bill. Minnesota Chamber of Commerce opposes it.

The Alabama Senate passed SB270 on March 13, 2026, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell (R-Pell City). The bill requires the Public Service Commission to review contracts between utilities and large-scale data centers (150+ MW) to ensure they are 'in the public interest.' The bill passed the House 104-0 and was signed by Governor Kay Ivey on April 10, 2026. Key provisions: incremental infrastructure costs must be recovered from the data center, not existing ratepayers; contracts must provide positive benefits to all other retail electric customers.

In Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro announced GRID (Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development) standards for data centers, offering expedited 'Fast Track' permitting in exchange for commitments to water conservation, local hiring, And independent power generation. Two Amazon data centers in Salem Township and Falls Township are the first projects in the program. Separately, the PA House Energy Committee advanced two bills along party lines on March 9: one requiring annual water and energy use reporting, another creating model zoning guidelines for municipalities. Environmental advocates expressed concern about the voluntary nature of GRID and the lack of enforcement mechanisms without legislative cooperation from the GOP-controlled Senate.

A bipartisan bill banning non-disclosure agreements between municipalities and data center developers cleared the Wisconsin Senate committee with bipartisan support (by Cambrin LLC / Vantage). Authored by Sen. Andre Jacque, the bill reflects growing anger over secretive data center deals in communities like Beloit, Port Washington, and other Wisconsin towns where residents learned of massive projects only after NDAs prevented elected officials from discussing them publicly.

Prometheus Hyperscale is developing a 1.2-gigawatt data center near Evanston on the Wyoming-Utah border, courting both Meta and Microsoft as potential tenants. Uinta County commissioners approved a letter of intent for a 'workforce hub' providing temporary housing for up to 3,000 construction workers on 997 acres of county-owned property adjacent to Bear River State Park. Environmental groups have objected to the project citing enormous energy and water consumption. Over 200 environmental organizations nationally have cited such projects as needing better regulations before approval.

Wyoming faces 12.8 GW of announced data center projects that would more than double statewide electrical demand, sparking fears of soaring residential electric rates (by Microsoft / Meta / Crusoe). While the state has an existing ratepayer protection law (statute 37-3-116 from 2019) preventing new large load customers from obligating existing customers for utility costs, the Wyoming Outdoor Council has published a white paper calling for additional legislation requiring data center developers to pay for grid infrastructure, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and be accountable to the public. Lawmakers are considering additional regulatory measures for the upcoming budget session.

Sarpy County, Nebraska, Board of Commissioners formally objected to state data center tax incentive legislation (LB209), testifying that the county loses $5.8 million in personal property tax revenue annually from existing data center tax incentives. Research shows a net fiscal loss of $10.02 million per year during the incentive period. Meta is expanding its Sarpy campus to nine buildings across 4 million sq ft on 500+ acres in Springfield. A statewide tax incentive audit found $1.2 billion in lost revenue across incentive programs over four fiscal years.

Residents near Meta's existing data center on West Ridge Drive in Madison County report ongoing noise issues from generators and alarms, with one resident stating alarms sometimes run for 12 hours. Mayor Tommy Dispute has publicly expressed wariness about opening a second data center in Huntsville, Alabama, noting data centers require seven times more energy than typical facilities but only employ about 180 workers. Dispute has not written off a new center but wants to ensure the tradeoff is worthwhile, signaling a shift from the state's previous pro-development stance.

Fayetteville, North Carolina, City Council voted in early March 2026 to remove data centers as a permitted use from ALL zoning categories within city limits. A pending application by CHI Acquisitions LP for a 300,000 sq ft facility on 37 acres was denied by the Planning and Zoning Commission. CHI appealed; the City Council will make a final decision on March 19. The CHI Acquisitions LP appeal hearing was scheduled for March 19 at 6 PM at City Hall. CHI's application predates the zoning ban so it remains eligible for consideration. CHI Acquisitions/Crow Holdings withdrew their appeal on March 18, one day before the council vote. Councilman Emmett Spurlock called it "the power of the people."

Prologis is seeking to rezone 312 acres on 32 Mile Road for a Microsoft data center. The Planning Commission has postponed the rezoning decision four times (Jan -> Feb -> April -> June 11) as the township, Michigan, works on zoning ordinance amendments. Hundreds of residents have packed multiple hearings in opposition, citing water, noise, traffic, and loss of rural character.

Residents and the Center for Coalfield Justice protested in Washington County, PA on March 12 as County Commissioners held an invite-only meeting with data center developers at the George Washington Hotel, chanting 'Our land, our power, our land, our water.' CNX Resources' Zediker Station site and other proposed projects drew opposition. Part of a broader PA movement where 50+ data center plans face growing opposition.

AWS purchased 346 acres for $178M in Kline Township, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County and plans a 2.5M sq ft hyperscale campus with nine two-story data center buildings on Lofty Road (by Amazon/AWS). Residents are pushing back at community meetings, demanding more details about environmental and infrastructure impacts. AWS argues the development fits within existing industrial zoning.

Olyphant, Pennsylvania, is drafting zoning regulations for data centers in advance of a developer's interest in building 12 data centers at Triboro Industrial Park (by Sansone Group). A public hearing is scheduled March 31 at the Municipal Building. The draft ordinance requires developers to submit sound, environmental, and community impact analyses before any hearing. Council could vote on the ordinance April 14.

Canadian company Bitfarms Ltd. proposes a 350MW high-performance computing facility near the Panther Creek Power Plant, initially used for Bitcoin mining. Goal to start construction mid-2026. Unlike many PA locations, Nesquehoning (in the economically distressed Panther Valley area) has shown some local support and has already issued permits.

QTS has spent $580M acquiring dozens of properties in Salem Township, Pennsylvania, for a data center campus, situated west of Amazon's planned campus near Talen Energy's nuclear plant. Amazon is planning 15+ buildings and signed an $18B deal with Talen Energy for 1.92GW of nuclear power through 2042. A petition with ~3,000 signatures (2x the township population) opposes the projects.

Sugarloaf Township / Hazle Twp / Black Creek Twp / Nescopeck Twp
Alliance to Stop the Line opposes PPL's proposed 12-mile 500kV transmission line through four Luzerne County townships to support data center growth (by PPL Electric Utilities). Poles would be 100-240 ft tall. Luzerne County Council voted 10-1 for a nonbinding resolution urging PPL to consider alternatives, but PPL plans to submit to PA Utility Commission regardless. Town hall held Feb 24 at Sugarloaf Fire Company.

Londonderry Township, Pennsylvania, tabled a zoning ordinance that would create a data center overlay district after overwhelming resident opposition at a packed public hearing. Proposed limits include 30-acre minimum lots and 150-ft residential buffers, but residents say restrictions don't go far enough. Concerns about noise, environmental impact, and rural character. No formal data center application yet.

Scranton City, Pennsylvania, Council introducing an amendment to the 2023 zoning ordinance to regulate data centers, following advice from Lackawanna County planners that municipalities should address data centers proactively. The amendment was expected to be introduced March 17, 2026. Opposition was led by Archbald Neighborhood Association. Key concerns driving this action include community impacts.

Houston-based Cloverleaf Infrastructure is proposing 'Project Cherry Blossom,' a $1B+ data center on roughly 200 acres of the former River Raisin Golf Course near I-75 and North Dixie Highway. Dozens of residents protested in January 2026. Protect Frenchtown, Michigan, launched a petition drive to collect 1,200 signatures to place a zoning challenge on the November ballot.

Southfield, Michigan, City Council voted 5-2 on Dec. 15, 2025 to approve a $500M, 100MW data center by LA-based Metrobloks on 13 acres near Inkster Road and I-696, despite nearly six hours of resident opposition. Rep. Rashida Tlaib issued a statement voicing concerns about the project. Developer still needs to secure full funding within 18 months.

Wilmington, Ohio, City Council voted 5-2 on Feb 20 to rezone 545 acres from rural residential to light industrial for a second data center campus by Ardent Technologies (affiliated with TAC Data Centers), a $6 billion project promising 125-150 jobs. This is in addition to the existing 471-acre AWS campus, bringing total data center-zoned land in Wilmington to ~1,000 acres.
Wilmington Residents for Responsible Development (WRRD)

Brown County-based group launched a petition for an Ohio constitutional amendment to ban data centers over 25 megawatts statewide, collecting ~1,800 signatures in eight days (by DB STU LLC). Petition submitted to AG Dave Yost's office. Would need ~413,000 signatures by July for November ballot. Originated from backlash over a secretive 1,000-acre mega site in Mt. Orab.
Mt. Orab Residents for Responsible Development

Aligned Data Centers is proposing 11 buildings on roughly 300 acres near Reed Road and Carbon Hill Road in Coal City, Illinois,. An open house was held at Coal City High School in February 2026, where residents raised questions about water consumption and job creation. The project is part of a growing Will/Grundy County data center cluster alongside projects in Joliet, Minooka (where Equinix is building a $2B campus), and Essex, as developers target the region's access to power infrastructure and Chicago fiber networks.

Equinix was approved for a $2B, 340-acre, 700MW campus in Minooka, Illinois, about 50 miles southwest of Chicago, requiring 3 million gallons of water per day from a $1.54 billion Lake Michigan pipeline currently under construction. The project is expected to generate $6-7 million in annual property taxes and create over 160 permanent jobs, with operations potentially beginning by 2034. Despite approval, concerns persist about water allocation, as the facility would consume roughly 30% of the municipality's Lake Michigan pipeline capacity.

The Logan County (IL) Board voted 9-2 in February 2026 to approve a 60-day moratorium on accepting data center applications, prompted by Hut 8 Corp's proposal for a $5B, 500 MW data center on 200 acres of farmland in Laenna Township near Latham (adjacent to an Ameren substation). Hut 8 promised ~200 permanent jobs and 1,500+ construction jobs. The County Board is considering amending its zoning ordinance to allow large-scale data centers as a conditional permitted use in agricultural zones (rather than requiring rezoning to industrial). The earliest a vote could happen is April or May 2026. Most attendees at a January 5 public meeting raised concerns about higher electric rates and land use impacts. Illinois is also considering statewide data center regulation.

Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, CoreWeave, Digital Realty, Equinix
Sens. Warren, Van Hollen, and Blumenthal opened an investigation into Big Tech data centers driving up consumer electricity costs, sending letters to Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, CoreWeave, Digital Realty, and Equinix. Companies responded but refused to disclose contracts with utility companies or actual rates paid. Senators noted some regions saw electricity costs rise 267% over five years.

Army Corps of Engineers (Federal Agency)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers revised Nationwide Permit 39 (NWP 39) to explicitly include 'data centers (to include for example, artificial intelligence and machine learning facilities)' as eligible projects for streamlined Clean Water Act permitting. Effective March 15, 2026 through March 15, 2031. While data centers were already technically eligible, this makes coverage explicit, signaling federal intent to fast-track permits for data center construction in wetlands. NWP 39 authorizes up to 1/2 acre of permanent wetland loss per project. Notably, NWP 39 is suspended in Virginia and Maryland, replaced by State Programmatic General Permits.

Food & Water Watch released 'The Urgent Case Against Data Centers,' the first comprehensive national report making the case for a nationwide moratorium. Key findings: by 2028, data centers could consume 720 billion gallons of water annually and 580 TWh of energy (12% of national demand). Virginia data centers created just 1 permanent job per $54M invested. 230+ organizations support the moratorium call.

Sierra Club released its 2026 state policy framework with four guardrails: ratepayer protections preventing cross-subsidization, clean energy requirements, water efficiency standards, and community engagement mandates. Active campaigns in MI, GA, NJ, MA, CO, TN, WI. Called the White House ratepayer pledge 'baby steps.'

Data Center Watch reported $98B in data center projects blocked or delayed by grassroots opposition in Q2 2025 alone. Identified 142 active advocacy organizations across 28 states. Opposition is bipartisan: Republicans cite tax incentive concerns; Democrats focus on environmental impacts. Total tracked disruptions reached $64B ($18B blocked, $46B delayed).

Big Tech is conducting an unprecedented PR and lobbying campaign. Meta running multimillion-dollar TV ads in DC and 9 state capitals. Data Center Coalition nearly tripled lobbying spend. NAIA (National AI Association, est. Jan 2025) organizing Congressional field trips. Only 28% of voters support data centers near their homes (Heatmap poll). At least 16 local governments placed bans in 2026 alone.

Lee County commissioners voted 6-1 on March 16, 2026 to begin drafting a moratorium on data centers and cryptomining, following a packed public meeting where capacity crowds demanded action. Deep River Data plans to power an AI data center with fracked natural gas from Butler Well #3, which would be a first for North Carolina. Concerns center on groundwater contamination risks from the 2,700-foot well with fractures known to travel up to 2,000 feet. An Action Network petition calls for a moratorium. The moratorium language will be reviewed at an April workshop, with a public hearing to follow before a final vote.

QTS filed a Developments of Regional Impact application for a 12 million sq ft QTS Technology Services data center campus on the outskirts of Blakely, Georgia, the 'Peanut Capital of the World.' Phase 1 is $290M with construction starting July 2026. At a January Rotary Club meeting, QTS could not answer key questions about start dates, job numbers, or water usage. Blakely previously adopted 30+ restrictions on data centers in November 2025.

In Lee County, 'Move the Gas Plant' grassroots group pushing back against a 1,200 MW gas plant by Sandow Lakes Energy that would serve nearby data centers and Bitcoin mining. TCEQ denied their hearing request in approximately 45 seconds and issued the air pollution permit authorizing 460 tons/year of ammonia, 153 tons of soot, 76 tons of sulfuric acid. Texas Energy Fund also denied Sandow Lakes' $295M loan application.

Permian Basin / Hill Country (765kV transmission)
A $13 billion plan to build Texas' first 765kV transmission line through the Hill Country to serve Permian Basin data center demand. Coalition of landowners, conservation advocates, and lawmakers mobilizing across Burnet, Llano, and other Hill Country counties. At final stages of administrative review; construction could start 2027.

The State Republican Executive Committee passed a near-unanimous resolution calling for 'rigorous independent assessments' of data center impacts on the grid and water supply before approval, and a pause on 'open loop' (high water use) data centers. Significant because it reflects growing intra-GOP opposition to data center development in Texas.

Amazon Data Services purchased GWU's 122-acre Ashburn campus for $427M. Loudoun County officials were 'blindsided' and are seeking to block the data center conversion. Under new zoning rules, data centers require special exception review rather than by-right approval. Opposition was led by Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition and Coalition to Protect Prince William County. Key concerns driving this action include transparency requirements. The outcome remains pending.

Following Goochland's lead, New Kent County, Virginia, is proposing a 1,800-acre Technology Overlay District along the Route 33 corridor. Controversial fast-track process would skip standard public hearings. Public meetings planned for late March/April 2026. No actual data center application has been filed yet — this is a proactive regulatory framework.

Virginia HB 507, sponsored by Del. John McAuliff (D-Fauquier), is the first state law mandating Tier IV emission standards for data center backup generators. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to deny air permits for generators below Tier IV standards submitted after July 2026. Governor Spanberger signed HB 507 into law on April 9, 2026.

Virginia SB 94 / HB 153, sponsored by Sen. Danica Roem and Del. Josh Thomas, requires 100+ MW data center applicants seeking rezoning to submit site assessment reports examining impacts on agriculture, parks, historic sites, forestland, and noise near homes/schools. Passed both chambers of the General Assembly. Awaits Governor Spanberger's signature, amendment, or veto by April 14, 2026. Legislators reconvene for a veto session on April 22.

Virginia SB 553, the state's first water transparency requirement for data centers, directs water utilities to report aggregate data center water consumption monthly or quarterly to the State Water Control Board. Companion bill HB 496 sponsored by Del. Guzman (D-Prince William). Passed both chambers and now awaits Governor Spanberger's signature, amendment, or veto by April 14, 2026. Legislators reconvene for a veto session on April 22.

Provident Data Centers / Beltline Energy
Franklin County, Missouri, Planning & Zoning Commission is considering county-wide data center regulations including 1,000-ft setbacks from residential areas. The commission will hold its next meeting April 21 at Union High School to potentially vote on recommendations for two massive data center proposals (400-acre Beltline at Crooked Creek Farm near Pacific and 575-acre Provident/Gateway Digital Campus at Diamond Farms in Villa Ridge). Environmental concerns about the Meramec River have emerged. Meetings have drawn packed crowds and lasted until 4:30 AM.
No AI Data Centers in Franklin County (Facebook group)

Meade County, Kentucky, Fiscal Court adopted Ordinance 2025-07 on January 13, 2026, establishing a moratorium on data center development while the county reviews its zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan, which do not specifically address data centers. The moratorium followed the Fiscal Court's earlier vote to deny rezoning of 138 acres along Joe Prather Highway for a PowerHouse Industries data center, after both the Planning and Zoning Commission and residents raised concerns about water and electricity usage, environmental impacts, and the urgency of the planning process.

In Tennessee, TVA is reversing coal plant closures and investing in new natural gas generation to meet surging data center electricity demand across its 7-state service territory. Critics warn this threatens TVA's clean energy commitments and could raise rates for the 10 million people it serves. TVA pledged rate fairness but has not detailed how data center costs will be allocated.

Governor Katie Hobbs called for repealing data center tax incentives which cost Arizona approximately $38.5 million per year. The bill would end the transaction privilege and use tax exemption for large data centers. Part of a broader national trend of states reconsidering data center tax breaks. The outcome remains pending. Gov. Hobbs called for repeal in her State of the State address and proposed a penny-per-gallon fee on data center water use ($6.5M/year for water conservation). The exemption costs $38.5M/year (up from $1.4M in 2020, projected to reach $60M+ by FY2027).

Monterey Park, California, City Council voted unanimously to place a permanent data center ban on the June 2, 2026 ballot (by HMC Capital / HMC StratCap). If approved by voters, it would permanently ban all data centers citywide — an escalation from the 45-day moratorium passed in January 2026. The community collected 5,779 petition signatures.

Warren County Commissioner James R. Kern III, a member of the county Planning Board, distributed an advisory model data center siting ordinance to mayors and governing bodies across all Warren County municipalities on January 8, 2026. The document provides a planning tool for communities evaluating proposals, addressing how projects align with municipal master plans, zoning objectives, and community priorities. The action follows Phillipsburg's data center ban in the same county and growing developer interest across New Jersey.

Would prohibit data center developers from entering non-disclosure agreements with municipalities that conceal project details, addressing secrecy concerns that emerged when communities across New Jersey discovered major facilities approved without public knowledge. Part of a wave of NJ transparency legislation alongside S680 (Bring Your Own Power) and S3379 (semi-annual water and energy usage reporting). The NDA ban aims to ensure residents can participate meaningfully in land use decisions.

JRE Strategies LLC withdrew its data center proposal after the Ardmore, Oklahoma, Planning Commission voted 7-0 against rezoning 6.74 acres from single-family residential to light industrial. The developer withdrew before the city commission vote on March 16. Neighborhood residents and the Noble Foundation voiced strong opposition citing noise and power concerns.

Application IC-SE-01-2026 for a data center on approximately 546 acres of agricultural land near the Alapaha River in Irwinville, Georgia, was withdrawn by applicant James Russell Bryant (acting for the Marcus D. Fletcher Trust) at the March 2, 2026 Irwin County Commission meeting. The withdrawal came amid opposition from the WWALS Watershed Coalition, which raised concerns about water use near the river. Irwin County subsequently held public hearings on a new datacenter ordinance in March 2026.

Logan County, Colorado, adopted new data center regulations on February 18, 2026, lifting its moratorium and allowing Granite Renewables' proposed $15B, 2GW project on 4,198 acres to proceed. The New York-based company had been visiting county officials since late summer. New rules require minimum quarter-mile setbacks from highways, noise limits, and water use restrictions. Some residents pushed for even greater setbacks, but the county moved to finalize the regulations after months of study.

In Colorado, HB 1030 would offer a 100% state sales and use tax exemption for 20 years (extendable to 30) for data center operators investing at least $250M within five years. A fiscal analysis found the bill would reduce general fund revenue by $29M/year, triggering a $106M reduction in low-income tax credits. A broad coalition including Earthjustice and environmental groups objected to the bill as a 'handout,' while competing legislation (SB 24-168 successor) would impose proactive environmental protections instead.

HB 874, introduced by Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen (R-Idaho Falls), would prevent Idaho's Public Utilities Commission from approving any new customer requiring 20+ MW of electricity without first conducting a 'no harm' test proving it would not raise rates for existing customers. The bill requires analysis of grid reliability impacts, infrastructure needs, and risks before approval. It exempts longstanding high-power operations like Micron Technology (customers exceeding 50 MW as of January 1, 2000).

Sabey DC / Atlas Power / Quantica / TAC Data Centers
NorthWestern Energy, Montana's largest utility, entered letters of intent with data center developers including Sabey DC and Atlas Power in Butte, and Quantica near Billings, projecting up to 1,400 MW of total demand by 2030 -- more than double Montana's current peak load. A coalition of nine groups including Montana Environmental Information Center, Earthjustice, and Butte Watchdogs filed a Public Service Commission complaint, warning that data center infrastructure costs could be shifted to residential ratepayers.

In Utah, Governor Cox signed HB 76 on March 23, 2026, Requiring new data centers (10,000+ sq ft) to notify water providers of projected demands and report actual water consumption annually to the state. Sponsored by Rep. Jill Koford (R-Ogden), the bill nearly failed in the Senate but passed after being amended to apply only to new facilities. The bill had unanimous support in the House and was part of a broader legislative push to protect Great Salt Lake and conserve water.

Copia Power's Monarch Data Center, backed by Carlyle Group, won approval for an $11B, 1,000 MW campus on 505 acres rezoned from agriculture in Mason Valley. The 14-building, 4.6M sq ft facility includes onsite power infrastructure and energy storage. Lyon County, Nevada, Commission approved 4-1 despite 13-4 public opposition. Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Chairman Steven Wadsworth warned data center water demand could reduce flows to Pyramid Lake. Plans prioritize waterless cooling but still require water from private sources.

East Lansing City Council enacted a 6-month moratorium on data center development in March 2026, pausing new applications while the city studies potential impacts on the community. The moratorium reflects growing concern across Michigan about data center expansion targeting the state. Key concerns driving this action include zoning concerns. The community successfully achieved its objective.

Detroit, Michigan, City Council voted 6-2 on March 18, 2026 for a resolution asking Mayor Mary Sheffield to halt all data center permits for two years while the city studies environmental and economic impacts. The resolution, spearheaded by District 3 Council Member Scott Benson, calls for research into grid stability, water use, noise pollution, and land use impacts. Council President James Tate Jr. and President Pro Tem Coleman Young II voted against it, citing concerns about the moratorium's length.

Sheridan Data Center LLC (Clean Cloud Energy)
Grant County, Arkansas, Quorum Court passed a resolution allowing officials to negotiate a PILOT agreement with Sheridan Data Center LLC (operating under Clean Cloud Energy) for a proposed data and solar center just outside Sheridan. Residents protested at the courthouse, citing water depletion concerns (county relies on underground water only), lack of company transparency, and project scale. A resident sued the county for FOIA violations. The Facebook opposition group has over 1,700 members.

Project Accelerate
Crosland Southeast / Crow Holdings / Engineered Land Solutions
Developers proposed a 123-acre data center campus (Project Accelerate) near I-485 and East John Street in Matthews, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County (by Crosland Southeast / Crow Holdings / Engineered Land Solutions). After a contentious community open house and a Change.org petition gathering over 2,100 signatures, the developer withdrew the rezoning application on October 8, 2025. Under local rules, the developer can resubmit after 6 months (April 2026).

Project Anthem
Atmoss LLC's 'Project Anthem' data center at Fair Oaks Industrial Park was approved by Tulsa, Oklahoma, City Council with an 85% property tax exemption for 25 years. The $800M site broke ground in October 2025 despite community concerns. In March 2026, the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission delayed a decision on rezoning an additional 375 acres for expansion. Residents continue to question water usage (projected at 1 billion gallons/year) and lack of community input.
Stop Data Center Project Anthem Fair Oaks

Google announced plans to build two data center campuses near Summit and Council Hill in Muskogee County as part of a $9 billion Oklahoma investment. Rural Water District #6 and local residents object to the projects over water consumption concerns. The Council Hill campus anticipates ~20,000 gallons/day from the local water district. Indigenous environmental advocates warn that tech companies are targeting rural and indigenous communities because of available space and resources, often under NDAs that block elected officials from sharing details.
Muskogee County RWD #6 NO WATER FOR DATA CENTERS

Project Saltworks
Stream Data Centers / Headwaters Site Development
Stream Data Centers and Headwaters Site Development proposed Project Saltworks, an 867-acre data center campus with 600+ MW capacity between FM 61 and FM 209 in Young County, Texas,. Concerned Citizens of Young County organized meetings and public outreach, with a petition gathering 900+ signatures in one week. Headwaters has not yet identified an end-user but is in discussions with Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, expecting to announce by end of 2026 with construction in 2027.

Kahla Project
Belltown Power proposed the Kahla Project, a 1,500 MW data center on private property near Marquez in Leon County, Texas,. The $15 billion project aims to complete half by 2026 and the rest by 2027. Nearly 200 residents packed a meeting in Jewett to challenge the project, citing health impacts, livestock effects, noise, lighting, public safety, and water use. Leon County has 11 endangered species. Belltown Power has declined invitations to attend public meetings. The grassroots opposition group Citizens United for Responsible Growth (CURG) organized the community response.
Citizens United for Responsible Growth in Leon County

Hercules
In Appomattox County, Virginia, AVAIO Digital's 'Project Hercules,' a $3B hyperscale data center campus on 452 acres, was approved in December 2024. The site in the county's industrial park is fully zoned for data centers and cleared for rapid construction. Six buildings are planned with 200-250 jobs. Residents say the project was approved without meaningful public input — the deal was announced in December 2024 but a public information session didn't occur until over a year later. Protests erupted in March 2026 with residents raising concerns about water usage, noise, and lack of transparency.

Google formally announced a data center campus on 312 acres in Daleville on March 26, 2026 (also dubbed Project Raspberry). Plans include 3 data center buildings (~300,000 sq ft each), 3 substations, and a 28,000 sq ft office building. The facility will draw up to 2 million gallons of water/day from Carvins Cove, potentially rising to 8 million gallons/day at full build-out. Google will pay for all water and electric infrastructure. Construction on the first building expected to begin in 2026, completion in 2028. County estimates ~$30M/year in taxes. On April 8, residents packed a community meeting raising concerns about water supply. The Southwest Virginia Data Center Transparency Alliance said the announcement left key questions unanswered. Some residents are discussing recalling Board of Supervisors members; others are considering legal action.
Southwest Virginia Data Center Transparency Alliance

Project Tallmadge
In Shenandoah County, Virginia, Takanock proposed Project Tallmadge, A 2-million-sq-ft data center on 87 acres in Strasburg's industrial park near I-81 Exit 296, with an $8 billion capital investment. The land is zoned industrial (by-right use). Residents questioned water use, noise, and long-term oversight at a March 2025 public meeting. Shenandoah County is drafting its first data center regulations focusing on water use, noise control, and land protections, with the county's reliance on small-town water systems and private wells making it vulnerable to high-volume industrial users. Construction potentially commencing late 2027.

Monroe County residents organized opposition to potential data center development (by Undisclosed developer (state-facilitated)). The Monroe County Commission denied ongoing data center discussions, but acknowledged that recent West Virginia state legislation (2025) removed local authority over certified data center projects, limiting the Commission's ability to regulate or influence them. The Commission encouraged residents to contact state legislators. The state legislative session ending March 14, 2026 further increased data center development powers while reducing local control, despite overwhelming public opposition.

The City of Sheboygan Finance and Personnel Committee passed a recommendation for a purchase agreement with Amazon.com Services LLC to sell 58.1 acres at the intersection of Stahl Road and South Taylor Drive — for what is described as a logistics center, not a data center. Project would create hundreds of jobs and inject $73M in wages. Around a dozen Sheboygan residents showed opposition. Separately, the regional impact: ATC's $1.4B transmission project to support a Port Washington data center would span Ozaukee, Washington, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, and Calumet counties — pending PSC approval, construction could begin mid-2026. New North hosted a Data Center Educational Forum for Municipal Leaders in March 2026.

Advanced Digital Hub Infrastructure Project
Raton, New Mexico, City Commission voted 3-1 on February 10, 2026 to approve a six-month MOU with Atterix for a feasibility study on an 'Advanced Digital Hub Infrastructure Project' at the former Kmart building, despite citizen pushback. Residents demanded transparency about Atterix and the MOU terms. City officials clarified the MOU is only for a feasibility study, not construction approval, and includes a request not to divulge proprietary information shared during the six-month study period. The Facebook discussion group has a neutral stance, focused on monitoring the MOU process.

Meta named as company behind 328-acre, $800M data center campus in Davenport in May 2024. Iowa Economic Development Authority approved incentives for a 715,000 sq ft facility with 35 jobs. Environmental activist Elizabeth VanCamp raised concerns about electricity and water usage. As of March 2026, more than a year after Meta's plans were revealed, the land remains empty and Meta has not broken ground or revealed any construction timeline, despite previously targeting Q4 2025. Opposition concerns center on excessive electricity/water use, few permanent jobs, and impacts on construction industry.

Overflow crowd at supervisor meeting forced the session outdoors. Supervisors delayed a full hearing on data center zoning ordinances until May. Residents concerned about property values, electricity bills, noise/light pollution, and Susquehanna River pollution. Volunteer fire chief was one of few supporters citing potential tax revenue.

Google (via Hatchworks LLC) confirmed as developer of 'Project Zodiac' in Jan 2024. Broke ground April 2024 on a $2B data center campus on Fort Wayne's far east side. First phase became operational in 2025, employing up to 200 people. Indiana IDEM approved filling 2+ acres of protected wetlands for expansion despite local opposition. Google requested 179 diesel generators (528 MW backup power) with 1,074,000 gallons of diesel storage. Community concerns about environmental impact, wetlands destruction, and diesel pollution were overridden at state and local levels.

Logistix Realty proposed a data center near Frankfort, first petitioning to rezone land within city limits (withdrawn July 2025), then filing a new request in December 2025 to rezone 715 acres of agricultural land to light industrial in unincorporated Clinton County. The Area Plan Commission sent a 'no recommendation' to commissioners. On January 20, 2026, commissioners voted unanimously 3-0 to deny the rezoning, citing resident opposition and concerns about water, electricity, noise, farmland loss, and lack of an identified end-user. A 12-month waiting period now applies. The 'Clinton County Indiana-NO DATA CENTERS' Facebook group mobilized opposition including yard sign campaigns.

Greensburg City Council unanimously approved a 10-year, 60% property tax abatement for Jumping Bison LLC's 550-acre data center campus along I-74 in December 2024. The Coalition to Protect Decatur County, Indiana, Against AI Data Center launched a petition that gathered hundreds of signatures voicing concerns about the 833-acre, $800M campus planned for seven buildings totaling over 7M sq ft consuming 300+ MW. The developer's identity remains undisclosed. Opposition cited lack of transparency about risks, but the project was approved.
Coalition to Protect Decatur County Against AI Data Center

Pinnacle Properties, representing landowner Christine Truee Wilhelm, sought to rezone 247 acres of farmland on County Road 23 in Bristol, Indiana, for a data center campus of 800,000 to 1.2 million sq ft with an estimated $1B investment. The Bristol planning commission initially rejected the proposal in January 2024. A second application was submitted and the Town Council voted 5-1 in September 2024 to approve the rezoning despite heated opposition. The 'Bristol United: No Data Center' Facebook group organized residents concerned about noise, light pollution, farmland loss, well water impacts, and rising power costs.

Microsoft's $1B data center was approved for a 245,000 sq ft facility on 489 acres at Radius Industrial Park in LaPorte. Currently in the entitlement/permitting phase with groundbreaking expected spring 2026. LaPorte County, Indiana, Commissioner Joe Haney publicly objected to data centers, citing massive electricity demands, excessive water consumption, light pollution, and diesel generators. Despite commissioner opposition, the project continues to advance through the approval process.
Say No to Data Centers in LaPorte County

Prologis proposed annexing and rezoning 429 acres east of the SR 44 and I-74 interchange from agricultural to industrial for a data center campus of up to 13 buildings. After a five-hour meeting on January 7, 2026, the Shelby, Indiana,ville Plan Commission gave an 'unfavorable' recommendation. Over 6,700 people signed a petition organized by 'Shelbyville Citizens Against Data Centers.' Despite the plan commission rejection and overwhelming public opposition, the City Council voted 5-1 (one abstention) to approve the annexation in February 2026. The council subsequently tabled and then approved the annexation after a 30-day delay for environmental review.
Shelby County citizens against data centers

Sourecolo, a Lehi, Utah-based company, attended the Warrick County, Indiana, Area Plan Commission meeting on December 8, 2025 to present general information about data centers. No specific project has been formally proposed yet, but the presentation sparked immediate opposition from a Facebook group calling for concerned residents to attend the meeting. Opponents warn about electricity consumption driving up rates for residents and small businesses. The 'Warrick County Data Center Discussion' group has 778 members.

Cornerstone Alliance marketed a site in Benton Township, Berrien County for data center development, with a proposed $3 billion project. Benton Township's water plant alone lacks capacity, requiring Benton Harbor's struggling water system. Berrien County is in nonattainment for ozone. The county administrator stated he was not aware of any active developer. The 'Flip the Switch Berrien County MI' Facebook group (316 members) formed to challenge data center development in the county. Environmentalists warn of high costs to water, climate, and community despite the economic development promise.

Alterra Development proposes the Marshall Technology & Energy Center in Brooks Industrial Park, including a data center and gas power plant near Stuart Lake and the Brooks Nature Area. The Local Development Finance Authority approved a purchase agreement for 200+ acres in October 2025 (unanimous vote). Residents were blindsided, with at least 30 attending a meeting where the project was not even on the agenda. The 'Stop the CCP Ford Marshall Megasite' Facebook group (1,819 members) and EDRA of Michigan organized opposition. Concerns center on wetland impacts, noise, electricity and water use, and few permanent jobs. The project is in early due diligence (6-12 months).

Hyperscale Data (parent of Alliance Cloud Services) operates a 30 MW data center in Dowagiac and plans expansion to 70 MW by 2027 and 340 MW by 2029 -- enough energy to power 100,000+ homes. Residents packed City Hall and organized a rally demanding a moratorium on data center expansion. The Dowagiac City Council denied a moratorium petition but unanimously passed a resolution to update industrial zoning ordinances, particularly regarding noise pollution. Cass County, Michigan, commissioners passed a separate resolution urging more transparency in data center development. The 'Dowagiac AI DATA CENTER' Facebook group (309 members) organized opposition.

Rocklocker LLC (headed by Traverse City geologist Matt Rine) proposed a gigawatt-scale hyperscale data center on 1,440 acres of state-owned land near Island Lake and South River roads, with its own natural gas power plant and carbon capture. The project initially had county commission and economic development support but encountered overwhelmingly negative public feedback. Residents cited concerns about impacts to the Boardman River and other cold water streams, use of public land, water and electricity consumption. The 'Kalkaska, Michigan, Citizens Against the Proposed Data Center' Facebook group (487 members) organized opposition. Rine withdrew the proposal in November 2025, citing threats and community opposition.
Kalkaska Citizens Against the Proposed Data Center

The Piqua Commission approved a $1B data center development agreement with J5 LLC (dba Shaytura LLC) on November 3, 2025 after a 4+ hour meeting, with the developer planning two 350,000 sq ft buildings at the I-75 Exit 78 Business and Industrial Park. Residents expressed strong frustration over the waived three-reading rule and emergency designation. Concerns included temporary construction jobs vs. few permanent ones, air and noise pollution, water supply threats to the Great Miami, Ohio, River, and data centers' massive water consumption. The 'Piqua Citizens Against the Data Centers' Facebook group (171 members) and a Change.org petition ('Save Piqua!') organized opposition.

In Sandusky County, Ohio, Developers showed interest in approximately 450 acres of industrial land off Township Road 93 in Woodville Township. Danberry National Ltd. served as the realtor, with agents offering landowners $100,000 per acre. Residents from Gibsonburg, Woodville Township, and Madison Township pushed back, but no developer attended a township meeting meant for public discussion. No formal rezoning request or resolution had been filed as of late 2025. Any zoning changes would require public hearings and multiple levels of approval. The 'Woodville & Gibsonburg Data Center' Facebook group (843 members) organized opposition.

Panattoni Development (California-based) purchased 100 acres of industrial-zoned land on Faircrest Street SW in Perry Township, Stark County, planning four buildings (two at 218,000 sq ft, two at 160,000 sq ft) with completion targeted for 2027. Microsoft was previously interested but withdrew in October 2024. The project is paused due to outstanding conditions with Ohio EPA, the regional chamber, and utilities. Canton and Perry Township are at an impasse over a JEDD contract with a 50-year anti-annexation clause. Residents voiced opposition at a March 2026 trustees meeting citing noise, air pollution, electric costs, water use, and lack of transparency. The 'Stop the Data Center Construction in Perry Township' Facebook group (471 members) organized opposition.
Stop the Data Center Construction in Perry Township

Washington County commissioners signed an NDA and letter of intent in January 2026 with an unnamed developer for a potential data center in Waterford. Commissioner Schilling read a letter of intent supporting the developer and offering a 100% tax abatement for 15+ years. Residents packed commissioners' meetings demanding transparency, criticizing the NDA as unethical. Concerns include rising electric rates, aquifer depletion, farmland loss, and few jobs. Ohio House Bill 695 was introduced to ban local officials from signing data center NDAs. As of March 2026, no public meeting had been scheduled despite continued pressure. The 'No Waterford Data Center (Ohio)' Facebook group (64 members) organized opposition.

Crawford County, Georgia, Board of Commissioners passed a 6-month (180-day) moratorium on data center permits on January 6, 2026, by a unanimous 5-0 vote, on the recommendation of Planning & Zoning. County attorney Joel Sherlock stated data center development is 'way more complicated than anything Crawford County has ever seen' and the county lacks infrastructure, rules, and procedures for processing applications. No data center developer had approached the county -- this is a preemptive moratorium. The 'Crawford County Community in Action' Facebook group (22 members) supported the measure.

Floyd County, GA has three major data center projects: a 347-acre Microsoft campus on Huffaker Road (Project Firecracker, $1B Microsoft investment, going live by 2028); the 178-acre Plainville Road Project near the Lowe's Distribution Center on GA 53; and the 114-acre Coosa Project behind Coosa High School. Atlas Development bought 100 acres of the former Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital property (Battey Business Complex) on N. Division Street for $5.7M from the Rome-Floyd Development Authority in August 2025 and is developing the Coosa and Plainville Road projects. The Floyd County Commission approved the rezoning for the Coosa data center despite citizen pushback in May 2025. Georgia's failure to pass any statewide data center bills in the 2026 session leaves Floyd County in the heart of GA's data center boom with limited tools.

A 'No Data Center Paulding County Georgia' Facebook group (27 members) formed in response to concerns about potential data center development in the county. Paulding County is part of the broader wave of Georgia communities pushing back against data center expansion, as the state grapples with growing opposition that led to moratoriums in at least 8 municipalities and multiple state bills. Specific project details for Paulding County are limited.

San Francisco-based Crane Data Centers is building a two-phase campus at 3975 Heather St. in Forest Grove, Oregon, on a 35-acre property zoned light industrial since 1980, bordered by residential homes on two sides. Phase 1 (180,000 sq ft, 40 ft tall) began construction July 2025 targeting 2026 completion, starting at 8 MW and capping at 47 MW. Crane will fund all improvements to existing substations and installation of new lines — Forest Grove Light & Power Director Keith Hormann confirmed safeguards are in place to ensure local ratepayers won't experience rate hikes or be on the hook for power system upgrades. Phase 2 would add 363,000 sq ft at 75 feet tall, bringing the site to ~100 MW, but requires additional approvals. Neighbors raised concerns about noise and light pollution, traffic congestion, property values, and disruption to wetlands and migratory bird paths. Forest Grove City Council approved in October 2024. Air-based cooling limits water consumption to typical plumbing needs.

Boone Town, North Carolina, Council voted 5-0 to approve a one-year moratorium on data center and cryptocurrency mining development on March 23, 2026, cheered by a capacity crowd at town hall. The pause gives officials time to study environmental and economic impacts before developers arrive. Watauga County Commissioners agreed to hold a public hearing on a potential county-wide moratorium on April 21, which would extend restrictions beyond town limits to the entire county.

Washington County, Tennessee, Commission voted 13-2 on March 23, 2026 to enact a moratorium on data center construction, operation, and permitting — including cryptocurrency mines — through June 30, 2027. The moratorium, recommended by the Planning Commission and the county's Commerce, Industrial, Agriculture committee, cited concerns that data centers require power equivalent to thousands of homes and could strain local utilities and raise ratepayer costs.

PW Digital Gateway
Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Irving voided the December 2023 rezoning of 2,133 acres for the Prince William Digital Gateway — a multi-gigawatt data center hub by QTS Realty Trust and Compass near Manassas National Battlefield Park. The Virginia Court of Appeals on March 31, 2026, unanimously upheld the lower court ruling against the rezoning, finding that the Board's advertising for the December 2023 public hearing violated Virginia Code § 15.2-2204(A) and county zoning ordinance, rendering rezonings void ab initio. The three-judge panel (Raphael, Beales, Bernhard) ruled in favor of the Oak Valley HOA and American Battlefield Trust. It remains unclear whether the county or developers Compass/QTS will appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court. The Coalition to Protect Prince William County is pressing the BOCS to withdraw from the lawsuit.

Northwest Indiana Data Centers
Northwest Indiana is at the center of Indiana's data center boom with multiple major projects: Amazon Web Services has announced a record $15B investment in NW Indiana data centers — the largest private sector investment in state history — with construction beginning 2026 (locations not yet confirmed but to be selected soon). Microsoft will create up to 200 jobs by end of 2032 in La Porte with a $1B data center investment. Milwaukee-based Phoenix Investors plans an $832M data center at the former Federal Mogul windshield wiper factory in Michigan City — the first NW Indiana data center to repurpose existing industrial buildings. Crown Point and surrounding NW Indiana communities have seen residents pack council chambers and planning meetings raising concerns about water, energy demand, noise, and environmental impacts.

Developer Brian O'Neill sought a zoning exception to convert the shuttered 66-acre Cleveland-Cliffs steel mill near Conshohocken into a 2M sq ft, 10-building AI data center in Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania,. Over 1,000 people signed an online petition citing noise, air pollution, water usage, and electricity cost concerns. The application was withdrawn during a packed zoning hearing after Cleveland-Cliffs' attorney revealed the prospective buyer lacked legal standing because an agreement of sale had not been finalized.

Infrakey proposed a $10 billion data center on 520 acres of farmland near Lacy Lakeview in the Waco, Texas area. The 'Stop the Data Center on Taylor Lane' group circulated petitions gathering 3,000+ signatures and organized regular strategy meetings attended by state legislators. Despite a 6-1 city council vote for a nonbinding agreement, annexation has not been approved. Concerns center on water use, air pollution from gas-fired plants, and noise. The outcome is pending.

SB 1488, introduced by Sen. Kendal Sacchieri (R-Blanchard), would establish a moratorium on new data centers in Oklahoma until November 2029 while the Corporation Commission studies impacts on aquifer water supply, utility rates, property values, and siting. The study would cost $300K-$400K for an outside consultant. The bill has bipartisan support but missed key legislative deadlines and is unlikely to advance this session. Sacchieri said the goal is 'not to halt progress, but to ensure that progress does not come at the expense of Oklahomans' quality of life.'

State Senators Krueger and Gonzalez introduced a three-year moratorium on permits for data centers capable of using 20+ MW (S9144/A10141). Would require DEC and PSC to adopt rules minimizing utility rate impacts. Exempts public 'Empire AI' research initiative. Bill remains in committee with no floor vote scheduled as of April 2026.

South Dakota SB 232 proposed a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data center construction. The committee killed the bill on a 10-2 vote. A separate bill (HB 1301) would have imposed a moratorium while addressing electricity cost allocation. Both were rejected. Key concerns driving this action include zoning concerns. Despite opposition, the community was unable to block the project.

White Oak Business Park / Pumpkin Center
Trammell Crow (CBRE) / Cloverleaf Infrastructure
Citizen filed two judicial review petitions on Feb (by Trammell Crow (CBRE) / Cloverleaf Infrastructure). 25 challenging Columbia County, Georgia, Board of Commissioners' approval of data center rezonings for White Oak Business Park and Pumpkin Center projects. Petitions allege procedural defects, incomplete Development of Regional Impact review, failure to notify school district, and lack of verified water/sewer capacity analysis. The legal challenges are pending court review.
Columbia County residents (Gregory P. Guido Jr., petitioner)

GRID Act
Sens. Blumenthal (D-CT) and Hawley (R-MO) introduced the bipartisan GRID Act (Guaranteeing Rate Insulation from Data Centers Act), the first federal bill targeting data center energy use. The bill requires new data centers drawing 20+ MW to generate power off-grid, guarantees consumers first priority on the grid, imposes $1M/day fines for grid violations, mandates project labor agreements for new construction, and gives existing facilities a 10-year transition period. The bill is pending committee action.

The Henrico, Virginia, Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously denied Centra Logistics' vested-rights appeal to build a 1 million sq ft data center complex on Darbytown Road in Varina. The BZA upheld the December 2025 decision by the county Planning Director, finding Centra had not received a 'significant affirmative governmental act,' was not the landowner when it filed its claim, and had not obtained the provisional-use permit now required under Henrico's June 2025 ordinance. Residents of the nearby New Market Village subdivision strongly objected to the project. Centra may appeal to Henrico Circuit Court.

Baltimore City, Maryland, Council President Zeke Cohen introduced a one-year moratorium on data centers with 10MW+ electrical demand on March 23 (by BGE/Exelon (utility)). The legislation would classify such facilities as a prohibited zoning use citywide for one year. Cohen cited surging BGE bills and affordability crisis, arguing data center infrastructure is disproportionately concentrated in majority-Black neighborhoods. Baltimore County had already approved a separate moratorium. The bill has been introduced but not yet voted on.

Project Steel
Yorkville, Illinois, City Council approved annexation, rezoning, and PUD for the 540-acre Project Steel data center campus by Prologis on March 24, after a 4+ hour meeting with significant resident opposition. The project includes 16 two-story buildings totaling 9M+ sq ft. Developer is paying $40M upfront ($30M to Yorkville School District 115). Air-cooled system using 25,000-42,400 gallons/day with 100-foot landscaped buffers. Residents quoted saying 'nobody wants to live in data center row.'
Block Project Steel and Project Cardinal

Project Double Reed (STAMP)
Proposed $19.46 billion, 2.2 million sq ft data center at the STAMP industrial park faces strident community opposition. Residents packed a 5+ hour public hearing opposing the project; only 2 spoke in favor. The $1.46 billion subsidy package ($6.4M per job for 125 jobs) drew outrage. The Genesee County IDA failed to properly record a legally required public hearing and must hold a do-over on April 16. Tonawanda Seneca Nation sees it as existential threat. Gov. Hochul is noncommittal.

Monroe Township, Ohio, trustees unanimously passed a 12-month moratorium on new proposals and development of data centers and small modular nuclear reactors. Monroe Township is the second locality in Adams County to pass a data center moratorium, alongside Sprigg Township. Trustees also established a zoning commission to regulate development in the 27-square-mile jurisdiction. Part of broader Adams County opposition to a proposed massive data center near the former Stuart power plant.

Residents are pushing back against a data center after commissioners quietly rezoned nearly 400 acres of former Carlton Farms farmland on Long Ferry Road in October 2025. The land was sold for $174M to EDC Charlotte LLC (linked to Edged, a subsidiary of Connecticut-based Endeavour). An online petition gathered nearly 3,000 signatures. Residents raised $1,200 via GoFundMe to pressure commissioners. At a March 25 Duke Energy hearing at the Rowan County, North Carolina, Courthouse, residents railed against having to fund grid infrastructure for data centers they object to. The effort is ongoing.
Rowan County Residents Against Data Centers

First-ever PA data center regulatory framework passed the House 104-95. Requires data centers to cover full costs of grid upgrades, transmission, and reliability. Mandates clean energy sourcing starting at 10% (2027), rising to 32% (2035). Bars electric companies from passing data center infrastructure costs to residential customers. Requires payment into energy assistance and clean-energy funds. Now pending in Senate.

WestDulles is appealing a determination that its proposed 430-acre data center complex near Chester requires a Conditional Use Permit under Chesterfield County's new zoning ordinance that took effect January 1, 2026. The new ordinance changed data centers from a by-right use to conditional use in industrially zoned land. The developer argues the project should be grandfathered under the previous ordinance. This case tests whether Virginia localities can retroactively restrict data center development through zoning changes. A Board of Zoning Appeals hearing is scheduled for May 2026.

Boulder City Council voted 3-1 on February 24, 2026 to refer 'Question 1' to the November 2026 ballot, asking voters whether to allow data center facilities in the Eldorado Valley Transfer Area. The proposed 170MW Townsite Solar 2 AI data center would occupy 88.5 acres and use 600,000+ gallons/day of wastewater effluent. All public commenters at the council meeting opposed the project. A petition opposing the project has gathered 1,400+ signatures.

Watauga County, North Carolina, Commissioners unanimously voted on March 24, 2026 to schedule a public hearing on April 21 for a potential county-wide data center moratorium. This follows the Town of Boone's unanimous one-year moratorium passed the same week. Commissioners cited concerns about water consumption (large data centers use 1.5 million gallons/day), stormwater runoff, noise pollution, light pollution, and the loss of green space. The moratorium would give the county one year to develop comprehensive regulations with environmental partners.

Project Steel
Council voted down Provident Realty Advisors' application to build a giant data center after months of growing outcry. About 200 residents showed up wearing yellow shirts. Archbald (pop. 7,500) faces proposals for 6 data center campuses covering 14% of the town, with 51 buildings totaling 13.4 million sq ft. The proposals would evict a trailer park.

Apple Valley Technology Park
Oppidan Investment Company / Rockport LLC
Apple Valley, Minnesota, Planning Commission recommended denial on March 18, 2026 of three key components of the Apple Valley Technology Park data center project: the Preliminary Plat, Site Plan and Building Permit Authorization, and the Conditional Use Permit. The Commission cited concerns about water and sewer infrastructure impacts and the proposal running counter to the city's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Rockport LLC had previously withdrawn its rezoning request, and on January 22, 2026, the City Council formally denied the Comprehensive Guide Plan Amendments. The City Council was expected to take final action on March 26, 2026.

Crow Holdings Development / CHI Acquisitions LP
Crow Holdings Development and CHI Acquisitions LP officially withdrew their appeal on March 18, 2026 to build a 300,000 sq ft data center on 37.4 acres on Highway 85 North near Fayette Pavilion. The Fayetteville Planning & Zoning Commission had denied the project in January 2026. The City of Fayetteville, Georgia, also enacted changes to the Unified Development Ordinance on March 5, 2026 to prohibit data centers entirely, making the withdrawal a community victory described as "the power of the people."

Project Cumulus
After CRG withdrew its data center proposal from St. Charles, the Festus City Council unanimously annexed 240 acres and on March 31, 2026 approved the $6B CRG data center development agreement despite fierce opposition. However, on April 8, 2026, voters ousted ALL FOUR incumbent council members who supported the data center, with turnout 129% higher than April 2025. On April 10, Wake Up JeffCo filed a lawsuit against the city and CRG alleging Sunshine Law violations and unlawful private meetings during the approval process.

Liberty City, Missouri, Council approved $1.4 billion in bonds and $202.7 million in tax abatements over 25 years for Metrobloks, an LA-based developer, to build three buildings totaling 568,800 sq ft on Old Hughes Road near Liberty Commerce Center. In exchange, Metrobloks will contribute $28 million over 25 years to the nonprofit Liberty Institute for Science and Ethics. The project promises 30 permanent jobs averaging $95,649/year. The bonds are purchased by Metrobloks, not backed by the city. The deal echoes the contentious tax break pattern in nearby Independence, where residents were blocked from a referendum vote on similar data center incentives.
Stop the AI Data Center in Independence (Facebook group)

On April 7, 2026, Port Washington voters passed the nation's first anti-data center referendum with 66% of the vote (2,710 yes / 1,371 no, 50%+ turnout). Future Tax Incremental Districts (TIDs) with projected base values or costs exceeding $10 million now require voter approval. Great Lakes Neighbors United organized the referendum in response to the $15B Vantage/OpenAI/Oracle Stargate data center campus approved via TID #7. The referendum was placed on the ballot after the city council approved it in February 2026.

At a North Carolina Utilities Commission public hearing on March 25, 2026 at the Rowan County Courthouse, residents railed against Duke Energy's plan to build new combustion turbines at the Buck Energy Complex on the Yadkin River, which they believe is being built to support AI data centers. Commissioners had quietly rezoned ~400 acres on Long Ferry Road (former Carlton Farms) in October 2025, and the property sold for $174 million to EDC Charlotte LLC (linked to Edged). Nearly 3,000 residents signed a petition voicing concerns about the project. The petition will be presented to County Commissioners on April 20. No data center has been formally proposed yet, but residents object to preemptive infrastructure changes.
Stop AI Data Center on Long Ferry Rd. (community group)

Pemberton Township became the first municipality in New Jersey to outright ban data centers when it passed Ordinance 10-2026 on February 20, 2026, prohibiting the construction and operation of data centers throughout the township. Officials said they were motivated by the rapid warehouse development the town had already experienced and wanted to get ahead of potential data center proposals. The township is located in the New Jersey Pinelands, a federally protected ecological reserve. The ban has been cited as a model for other NJ communities; Green Township (Sussex County) and Phillipsburg (Warren County) are reportedly considering similar measures, and Monroe Township (Gloucester County) announced plans to remove data centers as a permitted use from its Hexa Redevelopment Plan.

A grassroots coalition of farmers and rural residents in Huron County, Michigan organized against potential data center and renewable energy developments on prime agricultural land as county officials weighed zoning amendments. The group formed after residents spoke at county meetings voicing concerns about data centers, solar farms, wind turbines, and battery storage facilities. The Huron County Planning Commission made a zoning amendment recommendation on February 4, 2026, with the County Board of Commissioners scheduled to review on February 24. Opponents linked data center opposition to food security and generational land stewardship, a narrative resonating strongly in Michigan's agricultural Thumb region.

Lawton City Council voted 5-3 on February 24, 2026 to approve a zoning ordinance amendment setting one of the most restrictive data center limits in the country: data centers with peak electrical demand of 2 megawatts or less are permitted by right in Industrial-1 (restricted manufacturing and warehouse) districts only, while anything larger requires City Council review and approval through two public hearings. The 2MW limit is the most restrictive threshold allowed under Oklahoma state statute. The ordinance applies only within Lawton city limits and does not extend to surrounding Comanche County. The vote came amid growing statewide concern about data center impacts on water, energy, and communities. The ordinance was approved.

On March 26, 2026, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) sent a bipartisan letter to EIA Administrator Tristan Abbey demanding the agency establish mandatory annual reporting requirements for data centers and large energy consumers. The letter requests disclosure of hourly, annual, and peak power demand, electricity rates paid, grid upgrades required, cost-sharing arrangements, demand response participation, and breakdown of energy use by AI versus other workloads. Response was due April 9, 2026. This is notable as a rare bipartisan effort on data center oversight.

Dalton 4
Whitfield County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve Core Scientific's request to rezone 173 acres on Old Tilton Road from general agriculture and rural residential to heavy manufacturing for a new AI data center (Dalton 4), which joins three existing Core Scientific facilities in Dalton totaling ~195MW. Over 100 residents packed the commission meeting to voice opposition, citing noise and health concerns, property value impacts, and loss of rural character. The tie-breaking vote by Chairman Jevin Jensen was greeted with loud and sustained jeers. Core Scientific agreed to a 30-foot vegetative buffer. The facility is expected to open by July 2026 and spends approximately $5 million per month on local electricity.

Frank Heindel filed a FOIA lawsuit in April 2024 against Dorchester County, South Carolina, after the county redacted Google's projected water and sewer usage from public records, claiming trade secret protections. Google plans two data center campuses in Dorchester County (Pine Hill Business Campus in Ridgeville and Winding Woods Commerce Park in St. George), part of a $9 billion investment announced in October 2025. The lawsuit forced Dorchester County to release water usage data revealing one campus alone could use 978.2 million gallons annually. Google's existing Berkeley County facility already withdraws 853.8 million gallons per year. The case became a touchstone for data center transparency advocacy statewide.

South Carolina (S 902 Data Center Siting Act)
South Carolina Senate Bill 902, the 'Data Center Siting Act,' introduced February 10, 2026, establishes a permitting framework requiring data centers to obtain a certificate from the Public Service Commission before operations. It categorizes data centers into tiers by electrical load (1+ MW threshold) with escalating review requirements. Applicants must submit plans addressing infrastructure adequacy, environmental impact, water and operational efficiency, noise and vibration mitigation, and decommissioning. Critically, it mandates that data centers cover their own energy costs and infrastructure, preventing ratepayer cost-shifting. Unlike companion bill S 867, S 902 does not create a new permitting office but grants the PSC direct authority. Pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Project Lightning
Rapides Parish (Applied Digital / Project Lightning)
Applied Digital Corporation, a Dallas-based data center developer, purchased a 672-acre parcel along Interstate 49 near Boyce in Rapides Parish for $26.9 million in December 2025. The site, designated 'Project Lightning,' was swiftly reclassified from agricultural to industrial, with its assessed value jumping from $257,350 to $25.3 million. The England District Subdistrict No. 4 was created in February 2026 to enable bond financing and tax incentives. Power arrangements with Cleco utility are substantially finalized. The prospective tenant remains undisclosed under NDA. The project promises 1,500 construction jobs and 200 permanent positions, but the secretive NDA-shielded development process and rapid land reclassification mirror patterns that have drawn opposition elsewhere in Louisiana.

The 2026 Georgia legislative session ended April 3 (sine die) without passing any data center regulation, moratorium, ratepayer protection, or tax incentive reform. HB 1012 (moratorium), SB 408, SB 410 (tax exemption reform), and a rate protection bill all died. The $3B/year data center tax exemption remains intact. Republican Senate leaders blocked a rate protection amendment by adjourning abruptly. Democrats plan to use this as an electoral issue in upcoming races.

Big Red Apple Innovation Corridor
Habersham County (Cornelia / Big Red Apple)
The Big Red Apple Innovation Corridor, a proposed $300 million, 284-acre mixed-use development by Cook Communities at 1900 Level Grove Road in Cornelia, Habersham County, included a data center component alongside residential, commercial, and retail space. The project effectively died by 'death by silence' in December 2025 amid fierce local opposition over traffic congestion, school capacity strain (Habersham County Schools warned of overcrowded attendance zones and transportation disruptions), and a clerical error in the city's legal advertisements for the annexation. City officials later clarified data centers were not permitted under local ordinances and the city lacked infrastructure to support one. The project stalled due to combined community opposition, infrastructure deficiencies, and procedural missteps.

SRS AI Data Center Initiative
Savannah River Site (Federal AI Data Center)
DOE selected the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina as one of four federal sites (along with Idaho National Lab, Oak Ridge, and Paducah) to host new AI-ready data centers. NNSA identified 10 tracts totaling 3,103 acres at SRS for AI infrastructure projects. NNSA issued an RFP September 30, 2025, with proposals due December 5, 2025. An industry day in January 2026 attracted Microsoft, CoreWeave, Google, QTS, Meta, Digital Realty, Oracle, Crusoe, Arup, Pegasus Group, Submer, and Pure Storage. Construction was initially projected to start as early as late 2025, with completion targeted for end of 2027. SRS spans ~310 sq miles in Aiken, Allendale, and Barnwell counties, ~25 miles SE of Augusta, GA. Community concerns about transparency, environmental impacts, and federal preemption of local oversight.

Fort Worth City Council unanimously voted on March 31, 2026 to delay a decision on a 10-year, 50% tax abatement worth ~$18.2 million for Edged's proposed $1.1 billion data center at Veale Ranch (186 acres). Council member Michael Crain cited a need for 'more robust conversation' before moving forward. Residents raised concerns about the scope of the tax break and data center impacts. The vote was rescheduled to May 12.

Round Rock City Council approved Skybox Data Centers' rezoning request on February 12, 2026, making it the ninth data center approved in the city despite strong community resistance. Gary and Pamela Oldham founded the grassroots group Protect Round Rock, which gathered over 3,300 petition signatures voicing concerns about the 75-MW, ~250,000 sq ft facility on ~30 acres east of N. A.W. Grimes Boulevard. Hours of public comment raised concerns about water consumption during drought, ratepayer subsidies for grid expansion, low-frequency infrasound impacts on neurodivergent populations, and inadequate public notification (signs placed face-down on low-traffic streets). Eight data centers had already been approved before residents organized. Adrian Shelley of Public Citizen warned that existing noise ordinances would not cover infrasound from the facility.

Project Leo (AVAIO) / Port of Little Rock (Google)
The Coalition of Little Rock Neighborhoods, led by activist Kathy Wells, held a community meeting on March 14, 2026 at the Willie L. Hinton Resource Center to organize against two massive data center projects in Pulaski County: AVAIO Digital's $6 billion 'Project Leo' campus near Wrightsville (already broke ground, with a 150 MW Entergy deal) and a $1 billion Google data center at the Port of Little Rock. About 15 attendees expressed frustration over lack of transparency from officials. State Rep. Denise Ennett acknowledged having 'many questions that have gone unanswered from city officials' and committed to forming a resident taskforce. Minister Junior Tellez questioned whether local communities would see any benefits, saying 'the only people who like these data centers are stockholders.' Organizers scheduled a late-March meeting with AVAIO Digital to address constituent concerns.

West Virginia (HB 4983 secrecy rulemaking)
Governor Patrick Morrisey signed HB 4983 on March 27, 2026, cementing rulemaking that deems confidential all petitions seeking certification of a high-impact data center and all letters of intent seeking certification of a microgrid district. The bill passed the House 78-16 and the Senate 28-6, despite opposition from environmental and transparency advocates including WV Rivers, League of Women Voters, and the Sierra Club. Seven Republicans joined all nine House Democrats in voting against it. The legislature voted down amendments that would have required developers to disclose water sources, usage projections, and community impact; another rejected amendment would have created 500-foot buffer zones and allowed residents within 10 miles to petition proposals. Critics call HB 4983 an extension of the controversial HB 2014 (Power Generation and Consumption Act) that stripped local governments of authority over data center siting. Large data centers can consume 3-5 million gallons of water per day, roughly 5-8% of West Virginia's total 2023 public water withdrawals.

Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL)
West Virginia (MARL 500kV transmission line)
NextEra Energy proposed the Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL), a 107.5-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line running through Monongalia, Preston, Hampshire, and Mineral counties in West Virginia (with portions in Pennsylvania and Maryland) to deliver approximately 750 MW of power to Virginia's data center corridor. The $1.1 billion project's West Virginia portion costs ~$482 million. The grassroots group West Virginians Against Transmission Injustice (WATI) formed in early 2026 to challenge the line, hosting intervenor workshops (50+ attendees at Cheat Lake VFD) and coordinating over 4,000 formal protest letters to the WV Public Service Commission. WATI contends the line would 'destroy private property, including multi-generational farms, undermine West Virginia's growing tourism economy, and increase electric rates for decades.' House Democrats asked the PSC to reject the project, citing costs and eminent domain concerns. The PSC set a June 1 deadline for intervenor filings, with public meetings scheduled across the affected counties.
West Virginians Against Transmission Injustice (WATI)

Nearly 100 Wythe County residents packed Fort Chiswell High School on March 31, 2026 for the first in a series of public input meetings on a major AI computing campus being developed by SolisArx at Progress Park, about 15 minutes from downtown Wytheville. Wythe County is one of very few Virginia counties without zoning, making it particularly vulnerable to unwanted developments. Residents voiced concerns about water consumption, noise, and the lack of regulatory oversight. County officials stated the data center would use approximately 2,000 gallons of water per day (0.13% of Progress Park's capacity) and would not impact local electricity bills. The meeting marked the first step toward establishing oversight over future development in the county. Additional public input meetings are planned at other Wythe County high schools, with the next expected in April 2026 in the Rural Retreat area. The broader Southwest Virginia region has seen a wave of data center proposals in Pulaski, Wythe, Botetourt, and Wise counties.

Aligned Data Centers, West Buckeye Rd LP, and others
In summer 2025, Phoenix City Council approved an ordinance restricting where new data centers can be built, Specifically limiting them near neighborhoods and sensitive areas. By March 2026, 11 landowners filed Proposition 207 claims against the city seeking a combined $753 million in compensation, arguing the zoning restrictions diminished their property values. Claimants include Aligned Data Centers ($75M), West Buckeye Rd LP ($54M, which filed a formal lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court), Dairy 51.8 LLC ($155.4M), Property Reserve Arizona LLC ($130.8M), and the Sheely Family ($112.8M). Phoenix has issued waivers to some claimants allowing projects to proceed rather than pay compensation. Proposition 207, approved by Arizona voters in 2006, requires local governments to compensate landowners when new zoning rules reduce property values. Flagstaff is also considering similar data center restrictions and may face comparable exposure.

AB 222 - Data Center PUE Reporting & Cost Shifts
California Assembly Bill 222 would require data center operators to report energy consumption and efficiency metrics, including Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), to the California Energy Commission. The bill also mandates disclosures of energy used for AI model training and operation, including the portion consumed within California. AB 222 passed the Assembly but was held in the Senate in the 2025 session and is expected to come up for reconsideration in 2026. Big Tech-backed organizations including the Data Center Coalition and Silicon Valley Leadership Group object to the reporting requirements, arguing they could reveal proprietary operational data and place California at a competitive disadvantage.

HB 895 - Data Center Water Cooling Restrictions
Idaho House passed HB 895 (58-10) on March 20, requiring future data centers to design cooling systems for non-consumptive water use or use water from a municipal/water district system. The Senate Resources & Environment Committee endorsed it with a do-pass recommendation on March 26. Separately, a bipartisan bill to sunset data center tax exemptions and reform reporting requirements failed for the second consecutive year after Micron objected.

Green Chile Project (gas pipeline for Project Jupiter)
Energy Transfer / Transwestern Pipeline Company
Dona Ana County (Project Jupiter pipeline)
On March 20, 2026, New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard denied Energy Transfer's application to build a segment of a 17-mile natural gas pipeline across state trust lands in Dona Ana County, determining it 'would not be in the best interest of the state's trust.' The $60 million 'Green Chile Project' would have piped 400,000 dekatherms of gas daily from El Paso to private power plants fueling the Stargate-linked Project Jupiter data center in Santa Teresa. Energy Transfer, through its subsidiary Transwestern Pipeline Company, had sought a right-of-way across state lands. The rejection is a major setback for Project Jupiter, which already faces two separate lawsuits challenging the county's $165 billion industrial revenue bond approvals, over 7,000 public comments voicing concerns about air quality permits, and growing community opposition over projected greenhouse gas emissions rivaling Albuquerque and Las Cruces combined. Energy Transfer has separately applied for federal approval to route the pipeline through Bureau of Land Management land.

Nevada's interim legislative committees on natural resources and growth and infrastructure held joint hearings in March 2026 to study data center regulation ahead of the 2027 legislative session. Nevada's biennial legislature means 2027 is the only opportunity to pass statewide data center regulations. NV Energy's 2024 integrated resource plan shows that accommodating 12 proposed data centers would increase the state's energy load by nearly 50 percent, potentially preventing Nevada from meeting legally mandated clean energy goals by 2030. Advocates are urging lawmakers to establish a large-load tariff putting data centers into their own rate class to prevent costs from being passed to residential ratepayers. Industry representatives, utility heads, researchers, tribal leaders, and environmentalists all provided testimony. Community concerns center on water usage in the driest state in the nation and potential electricity rate increases.

Saline County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 on March 18, 2026 to enact a three-year moratorium on data centers, nuclear power generation facilities, and hydrogen-based energy plants in unincorporated areas of the county. The pause is effective until March 1, 2029, designed to give the Planning and Zoning Commission time to research and draft comprehensive regulations. County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes noted the moratorium does not affect incorporated cities like Salina, where such facilities are more likely to locate due to utility infrastructure. Commissioners cited concerns over rural water usage, electrical grid capacity, and preservation of agricultural land. Some commissioners also wanted to delay action until after the next election so candidates can make it a campaign issue. Saline County joins Sedgwick and Harvey counties in placing moratoriums on data center construction in Kansas.

Plain Township trustees in Stark County, Ohio enacted a 12-month moratorium on data center construction on March 27, 2026, to assess potential impacts on health, safety, utilities, and infrastructure. The action was triggered by opposition to a competing data center project approved the same day in neighboring Perry Township, which included 670 temporary construction positions and a $2.75 million community payment. Plain Township joins a growing wave of Ohio communities enacting moratoriums, with at least 18 municipalities across the state having considered or passed similar measures by early 2026.

Huron County, Michigan, Planning Commission voted unanimously on April 1, 2026 to expand its data center moratorium from six months to three years, following a public hearing where residents voiced opposition directly to planning commissioners. The extended pause gives the county time to develop regulatory standards while addressing community concerns about impacts on farmland, the environment, and economic livelihood. The moratorium now advances to the Huron County Board of Commissioners for final approval. Huron County is part of Michigan's rural Thumb region, where a grassroots coalition of farmers and rural residents had already organized against potential data center development on prime agricultural land.

Manitowoc County Planning and Parks Commission unanimously approved a 1-year moratorium on data center permits on March 31, 2026, following petitions from Three Towns (Two Creeks, Two Rivers, Mishicot). Would prohibit accepting applications or issuing permits for data centers for 12 months. County board vote expected April 28. Motivated by Cloverleaf Infrastructure approaching property owners with land purchase offers.

Gage County Board of Supervisors voted 7-0 on April 1, 2026 to send a data center regulatory review to the Planning and Zoning Commission, deliberately stopping short of declaring a formal moratorium. Board Chairman Eric Tiemann expressed concern that a moratorium would 'send the wrong message' about development. Supervisor Emily Haxby amended the motion to remove moratorium language, stating the county must 'find that balance' between new industry and existing residents. Data center operators have taken options on parcels throughout southeast Nebraska counties, with water use as the primary concern. A Tenaska representative reportedly discussed plans for a natural gas power plant to serve an industrial park that could include data centers in northeast Gage County. The Planning Commission's next meeting is April 23, 2026.

Massillon, Ohio, City Council hired an outside attorney on March 31, 2026 to develop data center zoning recommendations as interest from data center developers grows across Stark County. The action comes as neighboring Plain Township enacted a 12-month moratorium and Perry Township approved a data center with community payments. Ohio has 101 existing data centers with approximately 80 more planned statewide. Massillon is proactively developing regulatory frameworks rather than waiting for specific proposals, part of a broader trend of Ohio communities preparing for the data center boom that has prompted moratoriums in at least 18 municipalities.

Minnesota SF 4298, introduced by Sen. Jennifer McEwen (DFL-Duluth), would establish a temporary statewide moratorium on new data centers by barring state and local governments from issuing permits until one year after the Public Utility Commission submits a comprehensive report on data center development scenarios. This would theoretically push back local approvals into 2029. The bill was referred to the Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Committee but has not received a hearing as of late March 2026. Environmental advocates, union representatives, engineers, and the Minnesota Catholic Conference expressed support, while economic development organizations objected to it, arguing confidentiality in early business discussions is needed. The bill taps into growing opposition from communities pushing back against data centers across Minnesota, including in Monticello, Farmington, Pine Island, and Hermantown.

Ohio Prohibition of Data Center Construction Amendment
The Ohio Ballot Board voted unanimously on April 3, 2026 to certify a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit construction of data centers with an aggregate power demand exceeding 25 megawatts per month. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost had earlier certified the petition on March 26. Signature gathering officially began April 6, 2026, with Ohio Residents for Responsible Development leading the effort with volunteer county leaders in 46 of 88 counties. Petitioners need 413,000+ signatures from at least 44 counties by July 1 to make the November 2026 ballot.

Air Force Data Center Land Leasing Program
The U.S. Air Force issued a solicitation to lease approximately 3,100 acres of underutilized land at five bases for private AI data centers: Edwards AFB, CA (2,115 acres); Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ (300 acres); Arnold AFB, TN (274 acres); Robins AFB, GA (219 acres); and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ (193 acres). Projects must use at least 100 MW and invest $500M+. Leases can run up to 50 years at fair market value. Defense One reported concerns about security risks and land-use conflicts. Responses were due November 14, 2025, with selections by January 2026.

Crane Clean Energy Center (Three Mile Island Unit 1) Restart
United States (DOE Loan - Three Mile Island)
DOE issued a $1 billion loan through its Energy Dominance Financing Program to Constellation Energy for restarting Three Mile Island Unit 1 (renamed Crane Clean Energy Center), covering most of the estimated $1.6B project cost. Microsoft signed a 20-year power purchase agreement to offtake the entire 835 MW output for its data centers. The reactor is expected to return to service in 2027. The loan was financed to back projects boosting energy infrastructure capacity for the U.S. AI industry. Critics note this uses public funds to subsidize Big Tech data center power needs.

2024 U.S. Data Center Energy Usage Report
DOE published the landmark 2024 U.S. Data Center Energy Usage Report by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Key findings: data center electricity consumption rose from 58 TWh in 2014 to 176 TWh in 2023 (4.4% of total U.S. electricity), and is projected to reach 325-580 TWh by 2028 (6.7-12% of total U.S. electricity). Load growth has tripled over the past decade and is projected to double or triple again by 2028, driven by AI applications, domestic manufacturing growth, and electrification.

CEQ NEPA Regulations Removal
The Council on Environmental Quality finalized a rule removing all of its NEPA implementing regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations, effective January 8, 2026. This follows EO 14318 (July 2025) which directed agencies to identify categorical exclusions to fast-track data center permitting. With CEQ NEPA regulations repealed, each agency now sets its own environmental review procedures, significantly reducing environmental review requirements for data center projects on federal land. Environmental organizations have challenged the repeal in court.

Protect American AI Act of 2026
H.R. 8037, introduced by Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), would have limited litigation challenging data center environmental permits by barring claims unless filed within 90 days and restricting injunctions against approved projects. It also would have exempted data centers from key environmental laws including NEPA and the Clean Water Act. Earthjustice mobilized over 100 organizations within 24 hours, and the House Judiciary Committee shelved the bill the next day. The rapid defeat was seen as a major win for the environmental/community coalition.

National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence
United States (White House AI Framework)
The Trump administration released its National Policy Framework for AI on March 20, 2026, prepared by OSTP and AI/Crypto Advisor David Sacks. Contains 27 legislative recommendations to Congress including: financial support for data center Qualifying Projects ($500M+ capital, 100+ MW) via loans, grants, and tax incentives; federal preemption of state AI laws that conflict with federal standards; streamlined federal permitting for AI infrastructure; and a call to ensure residential ratepayers do not pay higher electricity costs from data center construction (referencing the March 4 Ratepayer Protection Pledge). The preemption push is controversial — Democrats introduced the GUARDRAILS Act in response. States retain zoning authority.

Building Data Centers Without Breaking PJM
NRDC published Building Data Centers Without Breaking PJM, documenting how data centers drove PJM capacity costs from $2.2B in 2023-24 to $14.7B in summer 2025 -- a sevenfold increase. Projects $163B in cumulative capacity costs through 2033, translating to $70/month increases for average households across 13 states. Estimates data centers could require 50+ GW of peak capacity by 2030 (enough to power 20M+ households). Recommends PJM require data centers to fund their own infrastructure rather than shifting costs to 67 million ratepayers.

DOE Section 403 Directive to FERC on Large Load Interconnection
United States (DOE Section 403 Directive)
On October 23, 2025, US DOE Secretary Chris Wright issued a Section 403 directive to FERC mandating rulemaking to standardize and 'rapidly accelerate' interconnection for large loads like AI data centers. The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes FERC assert jurisdiction over interconnection of large loads >20 MW — an area traditionally state-regulated. Final rule due April 30, 2026. FERC opened public comment Nov 14-28, 2025. The directive uses rare DOE authority and represents a significant federalization of large-load interconnection. Energy lawyers and academics raised concerns about preemption of state utility commission authority and acceleration of grid impacts from data centers.

New Jersey (S680 clean energy requirement)
S-680 would mandate clean energy sourcing for new AI data centers, requiring all electricity from new renewable or nuclear generation measured hourly. Takes effect only after a majority of PJM states enact comparable requirements. Advancing through committees as of April 2026.

New Hampshire SB 439 enables local planning boards to adopt regulations specifically governing data centers, which would be allowed in commercial and industrial zones. The Senate passed the bill on January 29, 2026 by a vote of 16-8 with amendments. The original bill included specific zoning requirements such as noise limits within 300 feet of residential districts and landscape buffer mandates, but the Senate stripped those specific restrictions, leaving only the enabling framework. The bill now moves to the House, where the Municipal and County Government Committee scheduled a public hearing for April 7, 2026. SB 439 takes a different approach than HB 1265's proposed one-year moratorium, instead empowering local municipalities to set their own data center regulations.

Maine LD 307, sponsored by Rep. Melanie Sachs (D-Freeport), was passed by both chambers of the Maine Legislature on April 6-9, 2026. The House voted 82-62 and the Senate voted 19-13. The bill freezes construction permits for data centers exceeding 20 megawatts through November 1, 2027, making it the first statewide data center moratorium in US history. It creates a Maine Data Center Coordination Council to study impacts on energy, water, environment, and community infrastructure. The bill awaits the governor's signature.

Starpointe Industrial Park
Township passed data center ordinance regulating location, noise, water usage, power demand, and emergency management. Most likely site is Starpointe Industrial Park. Community members from Center for Coalfield Justice remain concerned about environmental impacts.

Supervisors declared township zoning ordinance 'substantively invalid' for lacking data center provisions, triggering the curative amendment process under PA Municipalities Planning Code. Township has 180 days to adopt new zoning covering locations, setbacks, building size, noise, and infrastructure for data centers. Goal is to prevent developers from getting court-ordered approvals without local standards.

CenterPoint Data Center Overlay District
Jenkins Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, held a public hearing on March 31, 2026 for a proposed zoning amendment creating a 550-acre Data Center Overlay District limited to the Industrial 2 zone at CenterPoint, where the Mericle organization has built more than 20 warehouses. The Shepstone Zoning and Management Group was hired to draft the proposed amendment. Data centers would be permitted as a conditional use, meaning any applicant must go before the Board of Supervisors with a required public hearing. The proposed ordinance includes supplemental regulations for site development, dimensional requirements, and a Community and Fiscal Impact Analysis requirement. No applications have been submitted yet.

Project Washington
Delaware Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board unanimously upheld DNREC Secretary's decision that 'Project Washington' data center is not allowed under the Coastal Zone Act. The 580-acre facility proposed 516 backup diesel generators, classified as heavy industry. Developer Starwood Digital Ventures expected to appeal to Delaware Superior Court and then Supreme Court, a process that could take 18 months to 3 years.

NJ Assembly passed bill requiring utilities to design special tariff rates for data centers consuming 100+ MW monthly, ensuring non-data-center ratepayers are protected from incremental cost increases. NJ residential electric bills rose ~20% in 2025, with data centers accounting for ~70% of new power demand. Awaiting governor signature.

Phillipsburg, New Jersey, is advancing Ordinance 2026-08, a complete ban on data centers in all zoning districts. The Town Council unanimously approved the first reading on February 24, 2026. The Land Use Board voted unanimously on March 26, 2026 to support the ordinance, finding it consistent with the town's master plan. The ordinance cites data showing large-scale data centers consume 3-5 million gallons of water per day and require up to 300 megawatts of electricity. A public hearing and final vote are scheduled for April 14, 2026. Phillipsburg follows Pemberton Township, which became the first NJ municipality to ban data centers. Warren County Commissioner James Kern III had previously distributed an advisory model data center ordinance template to municipalities.

Meyer Property Data Center
Yorkville Nexus V LLC / Green Door Capital
Yorkville City Council tabled the rezoning vote for the 80-acre Meyer property data center on April 1, 2026, marking the third major data center proposal in Yorkville alongside the already-approved Project Cardinal (1,037 acres) and Project Steel (540 acres). The Planning and Zoning Commission had unanimously rejected the proposal on January 14, 2026 after hours of resident opposition. Developers Yorkville Nexus V LLC and Green Door Capital revised the plan to include 91-acre rezoning for two western parcels for data center/manufacturing use, donating the 37-acre eastern parcel to the city for multi-family residential. Concessions include a 1,500-foot setback from nearest Caledonia homes, limiting the middle parcel to single-story warehouses with 8-foot landscape berms, and a $10 million impact fee with $1 million non-refundable prepayment. Residents cited concerns about '10-20 years of construction and the huge increase in pollution and traffic.' The council will reconsider at its April 14 meeting after a Planning and Zoning Commission discussion on April 8.

Hancock County, Indiana, commissioners are seeking residents to serve on a data center study committee, following advocacy by the 'Save Hancock County' grassroots group that first proposed a moratorium and study committee to the commissioners. The committee will evaluate the impact of data center development on the county's infrastructure, water, energy, and quality of life. This comes after Surge Development had previously withdrawn its application to rezone 775 acres in Buck Creek Township for the 'Hancock County MegaSite.' The next planning commission meeting is scheduled for April 21, 2026 at the Hancock County Courthouse Annex. The study committee represents a shift from outright moratorium to structured review of data center impacts.

The Indianapolis City-County Council's Environmental Sustainability Committee began considering regulatory options for data center development in Marion County on January 28, 2026. Options range from stricter zoning laws to enhanced reporting requirements for technology companies. Some residents called for a temporary ban on new data center construction. Separately, Democratic primary candidates for the Indianapolis-area U.S. House seat have made data center moratoriums a central campaign issue ahead of the June 2026 primary, reflecting growing constituent frustration over the rapid expansion of data center facilities across Indianapolis. The committee discussions come after the Metropolitan Development Commission approved controversial data center projects in Decatur Township and Martindale-Brightwood despite organized community opposition.

Town of Cassville residents voted 54-3 in March 2026 to authorize 'village powers,' a Wisconsin mechanism that grants townships greater zoning control typically reserved for villages and cities. The vote was specifically motivated by a potential $1-2 billion data center development on approximately 500 acres in the Driftless Area of Grant County. The 'No Data Centers in the Driftless' Facebook group has 2,700+ members voicing concerns about the project. A community information event in nearby Potosi drew over 500 attendees. The village powers authorization gives Cassville residents significantly more leverage over future land use decisions, including the ability to adopt zoning ordinances that could restrict or condition data center development. The developer remains unnamed under NDA, with Grant County competing against sites in Indiana and North Dakota.

Carver City Council unanimously approved a 1-year moratorium on data center development on April 6, 2026. This is a preemptive action — no specific data center project was pending — to allow the city time to study potential impacts on infrastructure, water, energy, and community character before any proposals are submitted.

Governor J.B. Pritzker announced a two-year suspension of state tax incentives for new data centers, effective July 1, 2026. The freeze applies to the state's data center tax exemption program. Still requires Illinois General Assembly approval to take effect. The announcement comes amid growing community opposition to data center developments across Illinois, including fights in Sangamon County, Mount Prospect, and DeKalb.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced S.4213, the Data Center Water and Energy Disclosure Act, requiring data center operators to report both energy and water consumption data to states, EPA, and the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture. Addresses the lack of mandatory federal disclosure requirements for data center water consumption, noting that a single hyperscale facility can consume 1-5 million gallons of water per day. Referred to committee.

United States (Army Military Base Leasing)
The US Army conditionally selected Carlyle for ~1,384 acres at Fort Bliss, Texas, and CyrusOne (with KKR and BlackRock) for ~1,201 acres at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, to build commercial hyperscale data centers on underutilized military land. Initial Operating Capability at Fort Bliss projected for FY2027, Dugway for FY2029. Companies handle all financing, construction, operations, maintenance, and decommissioning. Aligns with Trump's July 2025 executive order on federal lands for data centers.

Army Corps of Engineers (Google Little Rock)
The Army Corps of Engineers published a public notice for a Section 404 (Clean Water Act) permit for a ~$1B Google data center at the Port of Little Rock (via Willowbend Capital LLC). The project involves 5 industrial buildings (1.43M sq ft), 2 office buildings, substation, and infrastructure. It would fill nearly 17 acres of wetlands and impact over 6,000 feet of streams. Power consumption would exceed 100 MW (equivalent to 80,000-100,000 homes). Public comments accepted through May 1, 2026.

Reps. Sean Casten (D-IL) and Mike Levin (D-CA), backed by 120 House Democrats via the SEEC Clean Energy Deployment Task Force, introduced the Energy Bills Relief Act. Among its provisions: ensures data centers and large energy users pay their fair share of grid infrastructure costs instead of passing them to households and small businesses. Also deploys affordable/reliable energy and modernizes the electric grid. Referred to committee.

Reports from April 2026 indicate that between a third and half of all US data centers planned for 2026 are delayed or canceled. Only ~5 GW of the expected 12 GW is under construction. Key causes: shortages of electrical infrastructure components (transformers, switchgear, batteries) with lead times averaging 128 weeks for large power transformers; China supplies 40%+ of US battery imports and ~30% of transformer/switchgear, now facing 125% tariffs; Trump's April 9 tariff pause (90-day, 10% baseline) offers some relief but uncertainty remains. Copper prices up 70% since 2020; electrical steel prices nearly doubled.

'No AI Data Center in Michigan' statewide rallies held in 6 cities: Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, and Houghton on April 11-12, 2026. Rallies connected opposition to data centers with a ballot initiative to ban utility political donations. Residents voiced concerns about water, air, soil impacts, and agricultural land loss. Dozens of organizations participated including Detroit DSA and Michiganders Against Data Centers.

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
The Sault Tribe Board of Directors voted unanimously on April 7, 2026 to approve an indefinite moratorium on AI data center development on tribal lands, citing concerns about resource strain, land use impacts, and economic benefit uncertainty. Any resolution to lift the moratorium requires community consultation. Bay Mills Indian Community separately instituted an outright ban on data centers.

Brentwood, Missouri, Board of Aldermen held first reading on April 6, 2026 on a bill to classify data centers as conditional use in the light industrial district, requiring public hearings, pre/post-build studies, sound standards, lighting regulations, parking requirements, and ongoing monitoring. Second reading and potential vote set for April 20.

Northfield, Minnesota, highlighted as a potential model for data center regulation with the strictest environmental efficiency standards in the state, covering noise, lighting, building height, electricity use, air quality, heat production, and vibration. The strict standards have effectively deterred data center developers from the area without requiring a moratorium.

What could become the country's largest data center was announced in Pike County, Ohio, an economically distressed Appalachian region. In neighboring counties, Google has a 75% tax abatement in Scioto County, and Amazon may get 75-100% abatement in Adams County. Growing skepticism in Appalachian Ohio about whether data centers will deliver on promises of economic development.

Texas House State Affairs Committee held a five-hour hearing where ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas testified that incoming businesses plan to pull 410,000 MW from the grid — about 7x more than new demand accommodated in 2024. 87% of new interconnection requests are data centers. ERCOT is creating a 'batch interconnection process' to prioritize grid connections and require deposits for grid upgrades. PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson testified about the need for regulations ensuring data centers pay for infrastructure costs rather than passing them to ratepayers.

Texas Comptroller projections show the state's data center sales tax exemption now costs over $1.3 billion annually, with $3.2 billion in lost revenue projected over the next two years. This makes it potentially the largest data center tax incentive program in the nation. Lawmakers are considering proposals to limit, reduce, or repeal the tax break.

Zydeco Development is seeking to rezone ~40 acres in Hutto, TX from a planned 173-unit apartment complex to a midscale data center. Of ~55 notification letters received, only 2 supported the project and 30+ were in opposition. Concerns include power demand, water consumption, home value impacts, and proximity to schools (1.5 mi from Hutto High, <1 mi from Cottonwood Creek Elementary). Planning & Zoning Commission expected to revisit April 20; City Council decision May 7.

Texas lawmakers are demanding transparency on data center water usage. The state currently does not require data center operators to disclose projected water use or report actual consumption. Data center developers testified about closed-loop cooling systems, but critics note there's no verification mechanism. Legislation expected in the 2027 session.

Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 on April 7, 2026 to adopt new data center regulations requiring special use authorization, noise impact analyses, water use plans, proof that power supply won't adversely impact existing users, and restrictions on using potable water for cooling. However, the Planning & Zoning Commission had voted 5-4 to recommend a 120-day moratorium, which the Board never took up because county staff said Arizona law's required findings could not be met. Many residents felt the moratorium better reflected their wishes.

A Pima County Superior Court judge dismissed the No Desert Data Center Coalition's lawsuit against Pima County and its Planning and Zoning Commission over Project Blue rezoning on April 13, 2026. The lawsuit alleged the county failed to provide adequate public notice of how far along planning was when the rezoning vote occurred. Opponents plan to appeal. This follows the earlier Marana referendum failure (petitions rejected for not including legal property descriptions).

NV Energy publicly acknowledged it may not meet Nevada's 50% renewable power by 2030 mandate due to surging data center electricity demands. The utility says it needs three times the electricity required to power Las Vegas just for proposed data centers (15,600+ MW beyond existing capacity), and cannot do so without relying on fossil fuels. Democratic Assemblymember Howard Watts called the situation 'unacceptable' and wants data centers to bear clean energy development costs.

A proposal called 'Project Taurus' to retrofit an old microchip manufacturing site on Garden of the Gods Road into an AI data center sparked massive community backlash. Around 180 people packed a community meeting on April 7, 2026, with the fire department intervening to split the crowd and dozens turned away. Residents raised concerns about noise/air pollution from cooling systems and backup diesel generators, water and energy consumption, and environmental impacts. The developer (Raeden, California-based) claims 60-100 permanent jobs.

The Oklahoma House voted 82-0 to pass HB 299, targeting non-disclosure agreements used by city officials when secretly negotiating with data center developers. Authored by Rep. Mike Dobrinski (R) and Sen. Darcy Jech (R), the bill aims to increase transparency in data center deals. Now in the Senate.

Cheyenne is systematically annexing pockets of Laramie County to keep up with a data center boom. A 1,200-acre annexation was on the city council agenda April 13, 2026. Key projects: Meta's $800M 'Project Cosmo' (715,000 sq ft), Related Digital's $1.2B data center (302 MW), and 'Project Jade' (2.7 GW — nearly triple Wyoming's entire state power usage). The city's infrastructure funding strain is driving the annexation strategy. Wyoming hosted a closed-door 'Data x Power' summit in Jackson attended by Meta, Amazon, and federal officials.

KRAMBU, an Idaho-based company, applied to install an AI data center at Bonner Mill Industrial Park at the confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers (the 'A River Runs Through It' location). Starting at 3 MW, expanding later. Uses closed-loop cooling with ~500 gallons/megawatt from on-site wells. Community response is 'generally negative,' shaped by earlier experience with a crypto mining operation. Over 100 residents attended a Q&A session. A Missoula County planner plans to schedule a Land Use Board hearing June 3.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 9-0 on March 17, 2026 to sell 41.7 acres at 3721 Stonecroft Blvd (Chantilly police training facility) to Starwood Capital Group for $166.8M ($4M/acre, below recent market rates of $6-9M/acre). The county kept negotiations secret for 8 months. Environmental groups (Virginia Sierra Club, Save Bren Mar Coalition) raised concerns about 8,000+ approved diesel generators in western Fairfax County.

York County (Virginia) Planning Commission unanimously advanced data center zoning amendments to the Board of Supervisors on April 8, 2026. The amendments increase maximum building height to 75 feet (aligning with industrial zoning) and maintain Special Use Permit requirements. Public commenters raised concerns about noise, energy demands, and suggested environmental measures like rooftop solar.

Swain County held a packed public hearing on April 1, 2026 (the most crowded meeting ever in their building) with 30+ speakers over two hours — only one opposed the moratorium. Triggered by an email inquiry from Paces Technologies about zoning for a data center. Vote on a 12-month moratorium scheduled for April 21, 2026 to allow time to develop ordinance language.

After neighboring Canton passed a data center moratorium, the Town of Clyde is holding a public hearing on April 16, 2026 to consider a one-year moratorium on data center development. Residents are urging leaders to protect the community proactively.

Vance County commissioners delayed a vote on data center rezoning at their April 6, 2026 meeting. The Planning Board had voted unanimously to recommend approval. A Change.org petition urges the Board to vote no. Community raised concerns about water scarcity and utility costs.

Over 60 members from nonprofit advocacy organizations and community groups gathered in Greensboro on March 25, 2026 for the North Carolina Data Center Convening to develop statewide strategy on pushing back against data centers, demanding health safeguards, moratoriums, and community benefits. About a dozen NC jurisdictions have passed or are poised to pass moratoriums. WUNC/NPR reported that opposition to data centers 'is catching a fire across North Carolina.'

Amazon announced expansion of its Mississippi data center investment to $25 billion (up from previous $10B in Madison County and $3B in Warren County) on April 9-11, 2026. This increases scrutiny from community groups concerned about water, power, jobs, and environmental impacts across the state.

Rocky Top City Council unanimously passed Ordinance 620 on first reading in April 2026, amending zoning to allow data centers only in M-1 Industrial zones as a special exception requiring Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning Commission approval. Final vote scheduled for April 16, 2026.

State Sen. Bryan King (R-Green Forest) filed five bills on April 8, 2026 aimed at regulating data centers in Arkansas: public notice requirements, electricity usage monitoring, groundwater protection, and more. This is an uphill fight in a state that has been generally welcoming to data center investment ($12B+ in projects planned/underway in Clarksville, Conway, Little Rock, West Memphis, AVAIO).

Bangor city councilors are fast-tracking a six-month moratorium on data center construction. The freeze would give the city time to adjust its Land Development Code before considering proposals. Final vote scheduled for April 13.

American Tower proposes a 17,000 sq ft unmanned data storage facility on a 6-acre lot at 114 Mantua Road, adjacent to Oak Ridge residential development. Residents organizing in advance of April 21 hearing, citing concerns about 24/7 noise (up to 104 dB from generators), water use from cooling systems, diesel generators, and proximity to homes (50 feet) and a playground (500 feet).

Governor Sherrill signed legislation on April 8, 2026 lifting New Jersey's ~40-year de facto moratorium on new nuclear power plants. While the law itself is about nuclear energy policy, it was motivated in part by rising electricity prices driven by data center demand — NJ residential electric bills rose ~20% in 2025, with data centers accounting for ~70% of new power demand. NJ is the second state in 2026 (after Illinois) to lift its nuclear moratorium.

PennFuture released a comprehensive report calling for a statewide moratorium on data center development until strict siting, water usage, and clean energy policies are adopted. Cited Article I, Section 27 of PA Constitution (right to clean air and pure water). Notes 20+ hyperscale facilities proposed statewide.

Board of Supervisors adopted data center regulations titled 'Digital Infrastructure Facility,' permitting data centers as conditional use in the Regional Use Overlay 2 district. Includes setback, noise, height, water, and electrical demand regulations. Requires electrical utility impact and water feasibility studies.

Montgomery County Planning Commission released Data Center Ordinance Guide Version 1.0, providing model conditional use provisions for municipalities. Addresses facilities over 100,000 sq ft. Includes noise study requirements and recommends concurrent conditional use and preliminary land development applications.

Frederick / Carroll / Baltimore Counties
Maryland's PPRP recommended a new October deadline for PSEG to complete its application for the controversial 67-mile transmission line across three counties. Opponents believe the powerline primarily serves Virginia data centers. PSC will not rule until 2027. A proposed reroute could connect directly to Virginia's high-voltage data center corridor.

Smithfield Planning Board gave positive recommendation to ban data centers in the town. The town currently lacks a data center ordinance, meaning uses not explicitly allowed are prohibited. Developer Revity Energy (solar company) had secured several hundred acres behind the Fidelity campus for a potential data center business park. Town council considering codifying the ban.