This week’s Zoning In underscores a credibility problem the industry can’t afford: when developers skip town halls (Denver) or table hearings at the last minute because filings aren’t ready (Pacific, MO; Upper Macungie, PA), the takeaway in the room isn’t “process”—it’s avoidance, and it hardens suspicion that projects are moving faster than the facts.
Meanwhile, grassroots coalitions are rallying and litigating (Farmington; Columbia County), and local governments are moving quickly on moratoriums and tighter zoning.
Continuing to stir up these hornets’ nests with inconsistent public engagement will only accelerate backlash, delays, and stricter regulation.
The Middle Decides: Understanding Community Sentiment and Polling in Data Center Development
In his latest piece, Adam Waitkunas examines why most data center projects are ultimately determined by the persuadable middle — not the loudest critics or strongest supporters. Polling shows support drops when projects move from concept to neighborhood reality, with concerns about electricity costs, water use, and local impact driving sentiment.
In a tighter permitting and power environment, understanding that middle early — through polling, coalition building, and tailored engagement — is critical to managing risk before narratives harden. Check out the full blog here.
Data center developer skips out on Denver town hall amid Globeville community concerns
CoreSite did not attend a planned town hall in Denver’s Globeville/Elyria-Swansea neighborhood, citing safety concerns—leaving residents frustrated and reinforcing distrust. City and state officials fielded questions about pollution, water, and ratepayer impacts as Denver’s newly announced moratorium on new data centers looms (existing projects unaffected). Community leaders are demanding enforceable commitments rather than voluntary assurances.
Hundreds pack Pacific High School for data center meeting—only for it to be canceled minutes in
A community turned out in force to oppose a large proposed campus—then the public hearing was abruptly tabled at the developer’s request because required documentation wasn’t ready. Residents and officials framed it as another trust hit (“three versions of the plan,” insufficient information), and even with the hearing canceled, the room stayed hot—showing how organized and emotionally invested these fights are becoming before a project is fully defined.
US Data Center Construction Fell Amid Permit and Power Delays
Bloomberg flags a notable inflection point: U.S. data center capacity under construction dipped for the first time since 2020, per CBRE—down to 5.99 GW (end of 2025) from 6.35 GW (end of 2024)—despite AI-driven demand. The culprit isn’t demand; it’s friction: permitting/zoning timelines and power procurement/interconnection delays are now gating projects.
Farmington data center coalition organizes rally at state Capitol
A Minnesota grassroots coalition rallied for a statewide moratorium, emphasizing a familiar bundle: NDAs, water guarantees, tax incentives, light/noise/diesel generator concerns, and what they see as “speed over scrutiny.” The piece also notes Farmington’s project is already tied up in litigation, and that nearby communities (like Eagan) are using local moratoriums as a “study-and-regulate” bridge.
Data center builders thought farmers would willingly sell land, learn otherwise
A national snapshot of farmers resisting high-pressure land acquisition—even when offers reach tens of millions—because of attachment to land, fear of community disruption, and frustration with secrecy (middlemen, unclear end users, NDAs). It frames the fight as both cultural (identity and land) and practical (water/power impacts), while noting how “lack of transparency” is becoming a catalytic issue that hardens opposition.
‘Shame on us’: Next data center forum delayed after tensions at first
After a first county “information forum” devolved into repeated interruptions and removals, supervisors postponed the second forum (and will revisit on March 25). Officials are debating a format shift—more expert-driven presentation, tighter controls, clearer expectations—because the current setup got “overrun.” It’s a reminder that even the act of trying to “just share information” can become a flashpoint.
Georgia Power Pushes Back on Data Center Misinformation
Georgia Power uses a chamber summit to directly rebut claims that data centers will automatically cause shortages or raise residential rates in Georgia, arguing the state’s regulatory structure forces large users to pay their full cost of service (with long-term contracts, minimum bills, collateral, and termination payments). They also point to a base-rate freeze through 2028 and frame the debate as “national headlines vs. Georgia-specific rules,” encouraging residents to separate the two.
Sedgwick County sets two town halls on data centers
Sedgwick County is running a two-step public process: a listening town hall (March 12) and a more technical zoning-focused town hall (March 31). Notably, they say no applications are currently on file, and a 90-day pause on new applications expires April 17—so this is “get ahead of it” governance, not reaction after approvals.
Citizen files lawsuits over Columbia County data centers
A resident filed two judicial review petitions challenging approvals for two major rezoning decisions (White Oak Business Park and Pumpkin Center). Core claims: procedural defects, incomplete infrastructure analysis (water/sewer), reliance on older traffic study assumptions, and issues with notice/coordination (including schools). In short: entitlement risk is shifting from the hearing room to the courthouse—fast.
Amid public backlash over $3B data center, Spartanburg officials could nix proposed tax breaks
Spartanburg County’s FILOT/tax-break package for a proposed $3B data center is wobbling: the council chair said he now plans to vote no if it returns for a final vote, citing how much they’ve had to “learn on the fly” and unresolved questions (especially power). The story also highlights a familiar friction point: NDAs limiting what economic development groups could say early, which fueled misinformation and backlash.
Hood County Says No Again: Data Centers Move Forward As Residents Demand Resignations
Local officials rejected a proposed moratorium (again), citing legal constraints and risk of state intervention/lawsuits—while residents argued the scale and permanence demand a pause to study impacts (water, noise, grid). The article frames escalating political consequences (calls for resignations) and ongoing pressure to push the issue to a special session.
West Rockhill Supervisors advance data center regulations
A township taking preemptive action: updating zoning to define and regulate data centers before an application arrives, including limiting where they can go and adding infrastructure requirements (public water/sewer; solar power requirement per the article). They also revised public meeting procedures—explicitly framing comment as a “listening session,” not Q&A—and committed to posting planning materials online 24–48 hours ahead.
When massive data centers rise from farmland, who benefits? This town offers clues
A deep look at New Carlisle, Indiana—where AWS’s $11B “Project Rainier” is transforming farmland into a hyperscale AI cluster. The story captures the “uneven benefits” dynamic: major construction and union apprenticeship gains, some restaurant/food business lift, but also traffic strain, identity/farmland anxiety, and a backlash as locals question long-term community value. It also shows the political tide turning—county leaders rejected a second proposed $12B data center rezoning, essentially saying “let’s see what we’re left with before we approve more.”
Linn County’s data center ordinance i
A Linn County (Iowa) supervisor argues their new ordinance is a model for “pro-growth, pro-community” regulation—built after multiple hearings and heavy public input. Key themes: independent water sufficiency studies, binding Water Use Agreements for the life of the facility, and broader guardrails (noise, setbacks, lighting, roads, waste, emergency response). Notably, they also added early public engagement (mandatory pre-application meeting) plus an Economic Development Agreement and “community betterment fund” to force tangible local value instead of a closed-door deal.
Data Center Growth Draws Controversy
A Journal-News investigation into a wave of massive, power-hungry data center proposals across southwest Ohio (Springfield, Hamilton, Wilmington, Trenton, Piqua, Sydney). It highlights the split: trade labor touts major construction wages/benefits, while residents fear water/power impacts, road damage, transparency gaps, and “who really benefits?” The piece also flags utility feasibility as a flashpoint—one Hamilton project request is so large that early study findings suggested a long lead time even to deliver a fraction of the power requested.
La Porte County Commissioner addresses rumors at Data Center meeting
A local commissioner hosted a meeting aimed at tamping down misinformation and emphasizing that no county applications have been filed—despite rumors of new facilities. The tension: Michigan City/LaPorte City have already approved projects (construction soon), while county residents are demanding transparency and signaling strong opposition to any additional projects.
Georgia data center boom: What it’s like to have one in your community
A “look-next-door” field report from metro Atlanta (Fayette County) showing what nearby neighborhoods experience during a multi-year campus buildout (traffic, heavy equipment, road wear, and anxiety over long-term costs). Local voices stress they aren’t anti-tech—but want data centers sited away from homes and want credible answers on power/water/environment impacts. The piece also notes Georgia’s rapid growth and the state’s early moves toward making large users pay infrastructure costs.
Murrysville takes first steps toward regulating data center, solar array development
Murrysville, PA officials say they’re getting inbound interest and want to “get ahead of it” by defining zoning-based controls for data centers and solar (setbacks, landscaping, siting rules, and review processes). A key legal thread: skepticism of standalone ordinances due to perceived vulnerability to court challenge and alignment issues with Pennsylvania’s Municipalities Planning Code—so staff are leaning toward zoning frameworks plus model ordinance language.
Hood County, TX is heading toward another moratorium vote after a previous 3–2 rejection, with residents pushing for a pause to study health, water, electricity, and environmental impacts. The county is also considering asking the Texas AG whether it has authority beyond the local government code—and urging the governor to call a special session. The political framing is sharpening statewide: even the Texas GOP adopted a resolution opposing additional open-loop data centers without enforceable safeguards.
Denver mayor announces moratorium on new data centers
Denver’s mayor and city council move to file a moratorium to pause new data center proposals while the city reassesses rules—aiming to create clearer guardrails around land, energy, and water use, plus neighborhood impacts and ratepayer protections. Existing/permitted projects aren’t stopped, but the city signals a stronger regulatory posture is coming.
NEWS: Sanders: Yes. We Need a Moratorium On Data Center Construction.
Sen. Bernie Sanders applauds Denver’s move and uses it to argue for a federal moratorium on AI data centers. He links the issue to environmental and ratepayer impacts, and then broadens the argument to labor displacement and AI risk—calling for democratic oversight rather than decisions driven by “billionaire Big Tech oligarchs.”
Most artificial intelligence legislation in Virginia was tabled until 2027
Virginia lawmakers largely shelved proposed AI guardrails until 2027, citing a mix of legal/structural concerns and a major political constraint: fear that federal broadband funding could be jeopardized if state regulation is deemed “onerous” under a Trump executive order. A few narrower bills survive (e.g., guidance for K-12 AI policies), but the overall signal is a regulatory “wait-and-see” posture under federal pressure.
Town hall addresses questions regarding data center water, electricity use
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-hosted town hall in Port Washington tackled the core question residents keep asking: who benefits, and who pays? Panelists stressed that impacts vary by project—closed-loop cooling systems may reduce water use, and power draw is highly site-specific. Still, estimates suggest the Port Washington project combined with Microsoft’s Mount Pleasant facility could consume more electricity than the rest of Wisconsin combined, intensifying scrutiny over grid and ratepayer impacts.
Judge won’t block Port Washington referendum on ordinance giving residents power over TIDs
An Ozaukee County judge declined to stop an April referendum that would require voter approval for large Tax Increment Districts (TIDs) exceeding $10 million. The push follows fierce opposition to a planned data center campus. Business groups argue the ordinance would harm economic development, but the court ruled it’s premature to intervene before voters weigh in—setting up a high-stakes April vote over who controls incentive decisions.
‘It’s heartbreaking;’ Neighbors speak out against possible data center in Urbana
Packed planning meetings in Urbana, Ohio reflect mounting frustration over transparency and siting concerns tied to the proposed “Urbana Technology Hub.” Residents fear proximity to homes, schools, and nursing facilities, and question why a moratorium was lifted before broader public engagement. The tone mirrors other markets: residents say they weren’t fully informed early enough and now feel the process is moving too fast.
Ahwatukee residents push back on approved 1 million-square-foot data center
In Phoenix’s Ahwatukee neighborhood, residents are challenging a 1M SF data center approved two years ago—arguing that few understood potential impacts at the time. Officials say approvals are final and can’t realistically be reversed. Neighbors cite noise, pollution, and water concerns; the developer says the facility will be air-cooled and won’t affect energy rates. The key tension: retrospective regret over earlier approvals now that awareness has grown.
A detailed look at Eastern Henrico, Virginia, where a proposed 1M SF data center across from a predominantly Black neighborhood has triggered intense opposition. Residents cite environmental justice concerns, diesel generator emissions, water stress, and cumulative industrial burden in what some call a “sacrifice zone.” The developer offered a $1M school investment and argues the project would generate $25M annually in tax revenue—but critics call the offer insufficient and question process transparency. The case could set precedent after the county tightened its data center zoning rules.
Palm Beach County to hear public input on data center project ahead of April vote
A proposed 200+ acre AI data center (“Project Tango”) in Royal Palm Beach is headed for public input before an April vote. Residents are split: some see economic upside; others raise concerns about water use, grid strain, automation-driven job limits, and noise. The framing is familiar—economic development versus long-term resource stewardship.
Hays County calls for special session on regulation of data center development
Hays County leaders tabled a proposed 30-day moratorium on “water-hungry” projects (including data centers) after county attorneys warned a pause could exceed their legal authority and trigger immediate litigation. Instead, commissioners are urging Gov. Abbott to call a special session to give counties more power to regulate zoning/development—and are pressing utilities toward drought-stage actions that could effectively slow industrial water permitting. The backdrop: San Marcos’ recent rejection of a $1.5B project and fast-rising forecasts for Texas power demand tied to data centers.
Ohio towns are pushing back against data centers — to varying degrees of success
A statewide snapshot of Ohio’s patchwork fight: some townships and villages are enacting moratoriums to buy time, others are rewriting zoning (noise limits, MW caps, industrial zoning changes), and some are discovering the limits—and legal risks—of temporary bans. The piece also captures the organizing playbook (Facebook groups, yard signs, ballot measures, relentless public comment) and the central argument clash: industry says it pays its way and brings tax revenue; opponents say the community impacts (noise, water, rates, wastewater, “doesn’t fit here”) aren’t being addressed early or clearly enough.
Inside the secretive data centers powering the AI boom
A rare “inside the walls” tour of Digital Realty’s Dallas campus that explains why these facilities feel opaque to the public: layered security, strict controls, and massive infrastructure hidden behind plain exteriors. It breaks down colocation vs. hyperscale models, the constant cooling demands (fans/industrial A/C), and why backup diesel generators remain standard for resiliency. The larger point: demand is accelerating fast with AI, and even as operators tout renewables and new cooling tech, community questions about energy, water, emissions, and siting are only getting louder.
Public hearing for proposed 2.6M-square-foot data center in Upper Macungie paused until May
A packed hearing never really started—Air Products’ attorney asked to continue the case to May 27 while the company conducts due diligence and decides whether it will proceed at all. Residents showed up ready to weigh in (water use in a drought, noise, lighting, infrastructure strain), but no testimony was taken. The company’s posture reads like “preserve optionality / protect rights” while the township’s zoning posture is evolving.
These major issues have brought together Democrats and Republicans in states
NPR’s throughline: statehouses are finding rare bipartisan overlap on regulating AI and the data centers powering it—especially around ratepayer protection, grid impacts, and water use. The piece frames data centers as part of a broader 2026 legislative season where “tech” is scrambling normal left/right alignments, and where states are moving even as federal posture is mixed.
Blumenthal teams up with GOP senator to rein in data centers
Connecticut Mirror covers a new bipartisan federal proposal from Blumenthal + Hawley: the GRID Act would push large new data centers (20MW+) to secure power outside the grid and require reporting/offset mechanisms so consumers aren’t stuck with infrastructure costs. It includes teeth (major penalties) and is already drawing pushback—especially from developers pursuing co-location strategies near existing plants.
Florida Senate unanimously passes restrictions for large-scale data centers
Florida’s Senate moved a large-load data center bill forward unanimously (SB 484), emphasizing ratepayer protection: require the PSC to create tariffs/service rules so large-load customers bear their full cost of service (interconnection, transmission/generation impacts, etc.) and costs aren’t shifted to everyone else. The bill also increases public disclosure that a data center is being planned in a jurisdiction (while allowing some details to remain confidential for up to a year).
