This week’s Zoning In tracks a surge of new data center proposals—and growing resistance—stretching from Texas and Georgia to Wisconsin, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, and beyond. Communities are raising alarms over water consumption, grid strain, noise, and transparency, prompting local officials to consider moratoria, tighten zoning rules, and even rescind prior approvals.
At the same time, states like Missouri and Pennsylvania grapple with shielding ratepayers from rising energy costs while attracting billions in AI-driven investment. New reporting reveals how the Data Center Coalition is ramping up nationwide lobbying and public outreach efforts to shape the policy landscape.
Milldam’s Adam Waitkunas recently joined Rich Miller on the Data Center Richness Podcast, where he discussed Zoning In and what the data center industry can do to improve its approach to community engagement. This week’s headlines show that the stakes have never been higher for engaging early, building trust, and demonstrating local benefits.
‘Tech takes that soul away’: Central Texas emerges as data center hotspot, raising rural concerns — I-35 corridor boom makes Central Texas a top secondary market; residents in Hays County raise water, noise, and grid-strain concerns as some projects pause and others proceed under county authority amid ERCOT’s projected demand growth.
Texas passes rules temporarily disconnecting major data centers from power grid — New rules allow emergency curtailments of large data centers to protect residential/critical loads; PJM and SPP weighing similar steps as costs rise and reliability concerns mount.
Energy Used by Data Centers Won’t Be Subsidized by Ratepayers in Missouri — Missouri will require 100+ MW data centers to pay their full electricity costs via special tariffs, with PSC rulemaking underway and business–labor coalition support.
The Fight Over Data Centers — Opinion: Bipartisan pushback to data center expansion grows over noise, emissions, water use, and limited jobs while federal policy seeks to accelerate build-outs; cites billions in delayed/blocked projects.
Resident sparks outrage after sharing details about proposed nearby data center: ‘Is this corruption?’ — Port Washington, WI Reddit post questions modest tax savings and environmental impacts, reflecting grassroots skepticism about AI-driven facilities.
Unswayed by protests, NC city approves huge data center on 330 acres of farmland — Statesville, NC unanimously rezones for a Compass Datacenters campus; officials cite compatibility and screening, while residents object over 24/7 noise and rural character.
The AI Boom Is Coming for Pennsylvania. How Will Lawmakers Respond? — Pennsylvania debates fast-track permitting vs. consumer/environmental protections amid rising PJM capacity costs and proposals for “bring your own power” and high-load cost allocation.
Twiggs County approves $5 billion data center despite large opposition turnout | Here’s what we know — Commissioners rezone 291 acres for an AI campus promising up to 675 jobs; opponents allege procedural violations and plan legal action; construction not expected before 2028 due to 900 MW power needs.
Exclusive | Emails show data center company sought private access to Twiggs County commissioners — Emails indicate a developer pursued one-on-one meetings with commissioners, elevating transparency/ethics concerns around the Twiggs County project.
Louisville Metro Council considers moratorium on data centers — Louisville weighs a temporary moratorium while updating codes that currently treat data centers like small telecom hotels; a proposed site could draw power equal to ~280,000 homes.
Environmental group urges caution as Albemarle weighs changes to data center rules — PEC urges retaining special-use permits for >40,000-sq-ft facilities, warning that by-right approvals up to 500,000 sq ft would limit public input; cites a 360M-sq-ft statewide pipeline.
Planning Commission holds work session on data centers (Fluvanna County, VA) — Fluvanna considers adding SUPs/overlay districts to curb by-right siting; commissioners flag noise, light, fire risks, limited jobs, and heavy water/power use, and will seek a preemptive moratorium.
Amidst Boom, Data Center Lobby Expands Its Influence, Spending, and Tactics — Investigation details the Data Center Coalition’s growing budget, staffing, and state/federal lobbying plus public-facing campaigns (e.g., Virginia Connects) amid debates over tariffs, incentives, and NDAs
GCEDC rescinds data center approvals amid litigation and plans for larger project — Genesee County EDC (NY) voids prior SEQR approvals for Stream’s ~1M-sq-ft STAMP project following a lawsuit and developer plan to expand scope; a fresh review is expected if/when a new application is filed.
