This week’s Zoning In highlights how community opposition is evolving from town halls to the ballot box. In Georgia, a newly formed Political Action Committee is targeting pro–data center commissioners, signaling that opposition groups are sharpening their tools to influence not just projects, but politics itself. Across the country, we also saw projects delayed, withdrawn, or re-zoned amid protests in Virginia, Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, and Missouri. Meanwhile, watchdogs and regulators are weighing in on the soaring strain of AI-driven power demand, and environmental groups are calling for stronger protections on land use and ratepayer costs. Together, these developments show that the data center debate is shifting from local skirmishes to broader questions about infrastructure, policy, and governance.
Plan B for Project Blue: Records reveal 3 other sites considered for controversial data center
Although Tucson City Council voted against annexation for the proposed Project Blue site, documents show the developer had already identified three alternate locations near Tucson—including state land and parcels tied to Diamond Ventures and Sunbelt Holdings. The records also reveal plans for five potential development phases, exceeding the three publicly disclosed. Officials caution that while the city can establish new regulatory guardrails, developers may still pursue projects in surrounding jurisdictions with access to alternative water and wastewater services.
Local PAC aims to unseat pro–data center commissioners
In Coweta County, GA, opposition to large-scale data center projects has entered the political arena. Citizens for Rural Coweta PAC is raising $150,000 to support challengers to commissioners backing rezoning for “Project Sail,” an 832-acre proposal. The PAC argues that elected officials must prioritize preserving rural character over developer interests, and it has vowed to target any commissioner supporting current rezoning efforts or the county’s draft data center ordinance. The move reflects a growing trend of organized opposition translating into direct political action.
Data center owners urge US Treasury to keep renewable energy subsidy rules
The Data Center Coalition—representing major operators like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft—has called on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to preserve existing clean energy tax credit rules. The group warns that President Trump’s recent executive order to tighten definitions of project construction could jeopardize up to 60 GW of planned solar capacity by 2030. With AI-driven energy demand accelerating, industry leaders argue that regulatory changes slowing renewable deployment would directly undermine U.S. competitiveness against China.
Residents, activists sound off on Gigaland data center project
Public sentiment over the proposed Gigaland data center near Remington, VA, came to a head at the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors meeting, where roughly 40 speakers split evenly for and against the project. The board capped speaking time and participation, tempering what was expected to be a larger confrontation. A vote on the project won’t occur until next month, but both supporters and opponents are mobilizing, signaling continued debate over the project’s impact on the community.
Pima County plans new zoning rules for data centers and utilities
In response to mounting concerns over water, energy, and AI-driven growth, Pima County, AZ, is moving to require Conditional Use Permits for new data centers. The proposed zoning amendment would shift data centers from “by-right” industrial use to a process that includes public hearings, community engagement, and stricter design, noise, and environmental standards. County leaders stress transparency and oversight, seeking to set clear expectations as the region faces rising pressure from large-scale utility users.
St. Charles data center dead for now after developers withdraw application, mayor says
Developers behind “Project Cumulus,” a massive and secretive proposal in St. Charles, MO, have pulled their application ahead of a scheduled council vote. The decision followed fierce opposition from more than 5,500 residents, fueled by concerns about diesel generators, water quality, transparency, and community impacts. While Mayor Dan Borgmeyer and councilmembers signaled skepticism, developers left the door open to reworking the plan and resubmitting in the future. For now, the withdrawal marks a major win for organized opposition but leaves uncertainty about whether the project—or another like it—will return.
Watchdog Group: Data Centers Must Produce Own Power
The independent watchdog for PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest power grid, has recommended that large data centers be required to supply their own generation. With demand surging across 13 states from Virginia to Illinois, Monitoring Analytics warned that existing capacity cannot keep pace and risks shifting costs onto other customers. While PJM says it is working with stakeholders, the watchdog emphasized that without corrective action, consumers will face higher bills and strained infrastructure.
Virginia’s State Corporation Commission has approved Dominion Energy’s plan to build the “Edsall Substation” and eight 120-foot towers to power a single hyperscale data center in Alexandria, backed by Starwood Capital. The project has drawn backlash from nearby Bren Pointe homeowners, who say the infrastructure will loom just 60–100 feet from their townhomes. Despite residents’ objections, the SCC ruled in favor of Dominion, underscoring Northern Virginia’s growing infrastructure strain from new data center development.
NIMBYs Are Coming for the Data Centers AI Needs
Bloomberg columnist Mary Ellen Klas highlights the political fallout from data center approvals, noting that elected officials from both parties are increasingly punished at the ballot box for greenlighting projects without sufficient safeguards. Opposition is emerging less along partisan lines than between communities and Big Tech, with concerns about water, power, noise, and property values. The piece underscores that local resistance to data centers is no longer isolated, but part of a broader, bipartisan backlash.
Columbia County residents voice concerns on data center proposal
At a commission meeting in Columbia County, GA, residents raised concerns about a new data center’s potential reliance on the municipal water supply. While officials acknowledged the risks, Commission Chairman Doug Duncan sought to reassure the public, promising that the project would not jeopardize the community’s water or electric grid. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Sept. 2, where both supporters and opponents are expected to continue pressing their case.
Utilities brace for staggering power demands from AI, data centers in Wyoming
Wyoming is facing unprecedented proposals that could more than double the state’s electrical capacity as AI and hyperscale data center developers flood the region. Projects like Crusoe and Tallgrass’s 1,800 MW campus south of Cheyenne—and future expansions to 10,000 MW—would equal the state’s entire generation capacity. Regulators are weighing how to balance economic opportunity with protecting ratepayers, as utilities warn that the scale of demand could overwhelm safeguards and reshape Wyoming’s power market.
Environmental group launches campaign to raise awareness about data center impacts
The Piedmont Environmental Group has launched the “Virginians for a Smarter Digital Future Campaign” to spotlight the energy and cost impacts of data centers on residents. With forecasts showing Virginia’s energy use could rise 183% from unconstrained data center growth, advocates warn that ratepayers risk subsidizing infrastructure unless stricter protections are enacted. Dominion Energy is seeking approval for rate increases while proposing new safeguards, but environmental leaders argue data centers must shoulder the majority of infrastructure costs to protect households and small businesses.
Stafford supervisors not quite ‘ready to roll’ on proposed data center regulations
After three hours of public comment, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted 4–3 to delay action on new data center regulations, opting for a work session next week. The draft rules included 1,500-foot setbacks from residences and 500 feet from sensitive sites, but some supervisors argued those numbers lacked scientific justification. Others pressed for immediate action, noting the county has already received 17 data center applications. The debate underscores divisions over how far to go in protecting residents while supporting economic development.
Google data center faces resident protests after approval from Indianapolis officials
Indianapolis officials voted 8–1 to rezone nearly 470 acres in Franklin Township for a Google-backed data center, sparking loud protests from residents in attendance. Opponents cited risks to water, noise pollution, and limited job creation, accusing city leaders of setting a “dangerous precedent.” Google has not commented publicly despite repeated outreach, and the project now heads to the full council for final consideration. The public reaction reflects growing unease over large-scale rezoning decisions in suburban communities.
Amid community opposition, Alabama hyperscale data center project hits a speed bump
Bessemer’s City Council voted unanimously to send a rezoning plan for a proposed 4.5 million-square-foot hyperscale data center back to the planning commission, delaying a final vote. Residents and environmental groups filled the chamber in opposition, raising alarms about air quality, endangered species, and massive utility consumption. The project, backed by Logistic Land Investments LLC, carries a $14.5 billion price tag and could take a decade to complete. Opponents see the delay as only a temporary reprieve but vow to keep fighting.
Georgia County puts off key data center vote after public backlash
Coweta County commissioners postponed a vote on new data center regulations following intense opposition to the $17 billion Project Sail. Residents packed the chambers, criticizing draft ordinances they say were watered down after industry lobbying. The proposed hyperscale campus would consume 900 MW of power—14 times the demand of Atlanta’s airport—and cover 831 acres. Critics demand stronger safeguards on noise, pollution, cultural sites, and decommissioning. The next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 11 at the county fairgrounds to accommodate expected turnout.
The increasing concern of data center land acquisition
A new analysis highlights how data center land acquisition is rapidly accelerating, raising environmental and regulatory concerns. Average facility footprints have ballooned from 40 acres to more than 200 acres for AI-driven hyperscale projects, with some campuses topping 1,000 acres. The expansion threatens farmland, wetlands, and wildlife habitats, while fueling greenhouse gas emissions. With global demand expected to triple by 2030, the article stresses the need for stricter land-use regulations, vertical builds, and sustainable construction practices to balance growth with conservation.
Tax change lifts plans for hyperscale data center campus in Massachusetts
A new Massachusetts tax exemption has revived Servistar Realties’ $4 billion plan for a hyperscale data center campus in Westfield. The 120-acre site, approved locally in 2021, could host 10–14 buildings and generate 400 permanent jobs plus up to 2,000 construction jobs. While state officials tout the economic benefits, advocates warn the proposed regulations lack environmental safeguards, particularly around energy use, emissions, and water consumption. With 32 states offering similar incentives, critics argue Massachusetts must avoid undermining its climate goals in pursuit of tech investment.
Residents share concerns about a potential data center in Appling
Columbia County residents packed a town hall in Appling, GA, to raise concerns over a proposed 8 million-square-foot data center. Residents cited fears about water usage—estimated at up to six million gallons per day—along with noise from backup generators and grid strain. Commissioners stressed the project remains under review and that multiple studies are underway, but residents questioned whether tax benefits would outweigh long-term costs. The discussion adds to mounting local skepticism about hyperscale facilities in rural Georgia.
