This week’s Zoning In highlights mounting community pushback from Alabama to Virginia, evolving state-level incentive policies, and renewed scrutiny on utility tariffs and water usage. Meanwhile, some jurisdictions—like Tucson and Janesville—are embracing digital infrastructure as a catalyst for long-term growth.
From postponed billion-dollar votes and well water disputes to thoughtful strategies for building trust with communities, this week’s headlines capture the high stakes and growing pains of hyperscale expansion.
Janesville Eyes Data Centers to Revitalize Former GM Plant
Janesville, WI is considering data center proposals for the long-vacant former GM site, aiming to transform the 240-acre property into a tech hub. With strong power infrastructure and an RFP on the table, the city sees the redevelopment as a rare chance to drive high-tech job growth and long-term fiscal benefits.
Stafford Residents Sound Alarm Over Data Centers Along Rappahannock
Residents of Stafford County, VA, are opposing plans to build multiple data centers near the Rappahannock River, citing environmental, aesthetic, and long-term economic concerns. With 16 campuses already proposed, calls for new regulations and transparency are mounting amid projections of massive tax revenue.
States Take the Lead on AI Policy Amid Federal Uncertainty
With federal inaction, U.S. states are filling the AI policy void—passing laws on algorithmic bias, deepfakes, and public sector AI. Experts warn of rising partisanship and inconsistent protections, even as states like New York and Colorado test more comprehensive regulatory frameworks.
Utilities Rethink Tariffs to Accommodate Data Center Load Boom
As data centers drive explosive energy demand, utilities in Indiana and Virginia are revising tariffs with new rate classes, contract durations, and exit fees. The changes aim to protect existing customers while meeting sophisticated load needs of hyperscale clients.
Meta’s Georgia Data Center Leaves Locals Dry and Angry
Residents near Meta’s Newton County, GA data center allege groundwater contamination and drying wells, prompting questions about the facility’s 500,000-gallon daily water use. With more centers on the way, local officials face mounting pressure over water scarcity and infrastructure stress.
How Data Centers Can Earn Trust as Community Partners
In a piece for Northern Nevada Business Week, EdgeCore’s Bill Jabjiniak argues data centers must prioritize intentional community engagement, environmental stewardship, and local workforce development. Reno offers a model for turning presence into partnership, with developers collaborating on education, sustainability, and social impact.
States Rethink Data Center Incentives Amid New Pressures
Facing backlash over grid strain and limited job creation, states like Georgia, Texas, and Virginia are reassessing data center tax breaks. Meanwhile, Kansas and Michigan are expanding long-term exemptions to attract investment tied to environmental standards and economic development goals.
Tucson Releases Details on $3.6B ‘Project Blue’ Data Center
Tucson unveiled plans for Project Blue, a $3.6B data center aiming to be ‘net water positive’ via a $100M reclaimed water system. With major infrastructure investment and 3,000 construction jobs, it’s the largest private development-funded public works project in the city’s history.
Alabama Residents Force Delay on $14B Rural Data Center Vote
Dozens of Bessemer, AL residents protested a $14B data center campus, delaying a key rezoning vote. With many affected living outside city limits, concerns over transparency, land use, and utility rates are driving opposition to one of Alabama’s largest proposed tech projects.
Virginia Pushback Grows as Data Center Expansion Surges
From Loudoun to Chesapeake, Virginia residents are rising up against unchecked data center growth. The NPR report highlights community noise concerns, NIMBY backlash, and skyrocketing energy needs that could triple Dominion’s power generation—a tipping point for America’s digital infrastructure capital.
PA’s Data Center Boom Brings Jobs—and Sustainability Headaches
Pennsylvania’s 88 data centers offer tax revenue and tech growth, but concerns over sustainability, co-located energy needs, and community impact loom large. The state PUC is now exploring a model tariff to ensure data centers cover grid upgrade costs while keeping ratepayers protected.
