This week’s Zoning In further underscores that community opposition to data centers remains organized, political, and increasingly mainstream. From Coachella’s supervisor rescinding support after backlash, to new moratoriums emerging in Texas, Ohio, New Mexico, and New York, communities are demanding greater transparency, more local control, and clearer answers around water usage, power demand, noise, and long-term infrastructure impacts.
At the same time, a new Gallup poll showing that 7 in 10 Americans oppose data centers being built in their communities highlights just how dramatically public sentiment has shifted. What was once viewed as a niche local zoning issue is quickly evolving into a broader political, regulatory, and reputational challenge for the industry nationwide.
Supervisor Manuel Perez rescinds letter of support for proposed Coachella data center
Riverside County Supervisor Manuel Perez rescinded a previous letter supporting a proposed Coachella data center after backlash over water, electricity, and environmental concerns. Perez acknowledged he did not fully understand the project’s impacts when initially endorsing it, while residents and political opponents criticized shifting positions and questioned the transparency surrounding the proposal.
Township treasurer resigns, cites ‘threats’ over Oracle, OpenAI data center
A Saline Township, Michigan official resigned after receiving threats tied to controversy surrounding a hyperscale Oracle and OpenAI data center project. The resignation underscores how emotionally charged and politically divisive data center battles have become in some communities, with misinformation, recall efforts, and public hostility increasingly targeting local officials involved in approvals and settlements.
Andover Mayor Announces Data Center Ordinances to Be Repealed After Community Pressure
After weeks of packed meetings and mounting community backlash, Andover Township officials announced plans to repeal ordinances that enabled a proposed AI data center project and potentially ban data centers altogether. The fight escalated into recalls, allegations of secrecy, police confrontations, and accusations of misinformation, underscoring how quickly local opposition can spiral into a full-blown political crisis when trust erodes.
Facing a packed public hearing and widespread resident opposition, the Town of Lysander approved a six-month moratorium on data center applications to allow more time to study potential impacts. Residents raised concerns about water use, utility demand, environmental impacts, and changes to community character, while local officials acknowledged the need for more information before moving forward.
Navajo Nation Leaders Oppose Data Center in Page, Arizona
Navajo Nation leaders and residents are pushing back against a proposed $10 billion data center development near Page, Arizona, citing concerns over water scarcity, lack of transparency, environmental impacts, and historical tensions with local officials. Community members say they were never consulted about the project and fear the development could further strain already limited water resources while offering little direct benefit to nearby Indigenous communities.
Lincoln County, Maine rescinded nearly $240,000 in affordable housing funding after the town of Wiscasset shifted focus toward exploring a potential $5 billion data center project on the same site. The controversy intensified after officials signed an NDA with the developer, raising concerns about transparency and fueling criticism that economic development ambitions were overtaking local housing priorities.
East Whiteland Township officials voted unanimously to begin revising the municipality’s data center zoning ordinance amid escalating opposition to a proposed 1.6 million-square-foot facility. Residents packed meetings, citing concerns over noise, environmental impacts, grid strain, and quality of life, while township leaders acknowledged growing pressure to tighten regulations and temporarily pause new applications.
Data center guzzled 30 million gallons of water, and nobody noticed for months
A Georgia investigation found a QTS data center used nearly 30 million gallons of water without being properly monitored or billed, exposing weaknesses in local utility oversight and infrastructure monitoring. The incident has intensified concerns about water consumption tied to AI infrastructure growth, especially in drought-prone regions already asking residents to conserve water.
7 in 10 Americans oppose data centers being built in their communities
A new Gallup survey found that 70% of Americans oppose data centers being built in their communities, with concerns centered on environmental impacts, water and power consumption, rising utility bills, and declining quality of life. The poll reflects a growing national shift in public sentiment that is increasingly influencing local elections, moratoriums, lawsuits, and development approvals across the country.
Residents gear up to oppose Project Oak data center
Residents in Coweta County, Georgia are mobilizing against the proposed “Project Oak” data center campus, citing concerns over noise, environmental impacts, wildlife disruption, mental health, and the continued industrialization of once-rural communities. While developers tout projected tax revenue and open space preservation, opponents argue the region is being transformed into an industrial corridor at the expense of residents’ quality of life.
Upstate NY Data Center Land Rush Tests Grid Limits, Communities, and Permitting
A surge of hyperscale data center proposals across Upstate New York is intensifying debates around grid capacity, tax incentives, and public benefit. With more than 30 large-load requests submitted to NYISO, state officials are increasingly focused on ratepayer protections and infrastructure strain as communities weigh the economic promise of redevelopment against the massive power demands and relatively limited long-term job creation tied to AI infrastructure.
Mansfield becomes first town in Mass. to pass near-total ban on data centers
Mansfield, Massachusetts has become the first municipality in the state to adopt a dedicated data center zoning bylaw, effectively preventing large-scale facilities while allowing only tightly regulated small-scale operations. Officials cited concerns around electricity demand, water usage, and noise, positioning the move as a proactive effort to avoid future infrastructure and quality-of-life conflicts before developers arrive.
Texas county pauses data center construction in rural areas for a year
Hill County, Texas approved a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in unincorporated areas, becoming one of the first counties in the state to formally pause development amid mounting concerns over water use, noise, electricity demand, and lack of regulatory oversight. County officials acknowledged potential legal challenges but said the rapid pace of rural data center expansion has outpaced local understanding and protections.
Moratorium: Another Central Ohio community is saying ‘NO’ to data centers
Jackson Township, Ohio unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data centers to study the impacts of future developments and evaluate potential zoning changes. The decision reflects growing caution across Ohio, where rapid data center expansion has prompted increasing concerns over energy consumption, land use, and community impacts even in areas without active proposals.
Residents in Utah’s Box Elder County continued protesting a massive AI-focused data center project backed by O’Leary Digital, raising concerns over drought conditions, water usage, and energy consumption. Public frustration remains high even after county officials argued the project was necessary to secure protections and economic benefits before the development moved forward regardless of local input.
New Mexico county officials approve process to consider data center moratorium
Socorro County, New Mexico officials unanimously approved a process to explore a temporary moratorium on data centers and related energy infrastructure following widespread public backlash over a proposed 10,000-acre AI-focused development. Residents and local leaders voiced concerns about extractive development, community control, and environmental impacts, while opponents framed the project as another example of outside interests reshaping rural communities without sufficient local input.
Want to pack a public meeting in Kansas? Just say it’s about a ‘data center’
Public meetings across Kansas are drawing unusually large crowds as residents push back against proposed data center, solar, and energy projects tied to recent state tax incentives. Concerns range from groundwater depletion and environmental impacts to transparency, industrialization of farmland, and whether rural communities are being asked to absorb disproportionate infrastructure burdens for projects largely benefiting major tech companies.
City of Cleveland rejects permit for $1.6B data center in Slavic Village
Cleveland officials rejected a permit application for a proposed $1.6 billion hyperscale data center in the city’s Slavic Village neighborhood, with Mayor Justin Bibb citing concerns about the impact of standalone data centers on residential communities. The decision reflects growing urban skepticism toward hyperscale facilities, even as developers emphasize minimal traffic, modern cooling systems, and economic investment.
Coweta County family fighting Georgia Power over home; power company using eminent domain
A Coweta County homeowner says Georgia Power is attempting to acquire her family’s property through eminent domain to support infrastructure expansion tied in part to regional data center growth. The dispute highlights how data center-driven energy demand is increasingly spilling beyond project sites themselves, creating broader tensions over transmission infrastructure, property rights, and ratepayer impacts.
Texas county pauses data center construction in rural areas for a year
Hill County, Texas officially approved a one-year moratorium on data center construction in unincorporated areas, citing public health, safety, and infrastructure concerns. Local leaders acknowledged potential lawsuits from developers and even the state but said rural counties are being overwhelmed by a “land rush” of projects advancing faster than local governments can properly evaluate or regulate.
More than 100 protestors voice concerns at Conway City Hall meeting over proposed data center
More than 100 residents packed a Conway, Arkansas City Hall meeting to oppose a proposed data center near the city’s wastewater treatment plant, raising concerns about environmental impacts, transparency, and long-term water usage. Officials said the project would likely rely on treated wastewater rather than the local reservoir, but residents argued rural communities are increasingly being targeted by large corporations that underestimate local resistance.
Community celebrates after developer withdraws plans for Lebanon County data center
Community opposition in South Annville Township, Pennsylvania successfully halted a proposed $1.7 billion data center after developers withdrew plans following weeks of organized protests. Residents rallied around farmland preservation, environmental concerns, and the protection of nearby bald eagle nests, while local officials acknowledged the project could become a blueprint for future countywide data center regulations.
Escobar: Data centers remain huge concern for community
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar says community concerns surrounding proposed data centers in El Paso continue to intensify, particularly around power costs, transparency, and public engagement. Escobar criticized Meta for refusing to hold a community meeting and said her office is exploring legislation aimed at creating “guardrails” to protect residents from potential impacts tied to large-scale AI infrastructure projects.
Local data center battles in Kentucky are contentious. They’re also inspiring runs for office
Data center debates in Kentucky are increasingly shaping local politics, with opposition movements now inspiring residents to run for office on transparency and anti-data center platforms. Communities in Mercer and Mason counties are pushing for moratoriums and stricter regulations amid concerns over environmental impacts, electricity costs, water usage, and the use of NDAs in economic development discussions.
Ohio Economists Oppose Both Data Center Subsidies and Construction Bans
A panel of economists in Ohio concluded that taxpayer-funded subsidies for data centers are poor public policy, while also cautioning against outright construction bans. The debate comes amid rising utility costs, growing scrutiny over corporate incentives, and broader concerns about balancing economic development with infrastructure strain and ratepayer protection.
Ohio lawmakers form committee to address data center concerns amid residents’ frustrations
Ohio lawmakers announced the formation of a new committee aimed at educating residents about the impacts of data centers as grassroots opposition efforts continue to gain momentum statewide. The move comes as activists push for a constitutional amendment to ban additional large data centers and residents near existing projects raise concerns about noise, light pollution, diesel emissions, and loss of neighborhood character.
Proposal calls for three-year moratorium on construction of data centers in New York
New York lawmakers, advocates, and residents rallied at the state Capitol in support of proposed legislation that would impose a three-year moratorium on new data center construction statewide. Supporters argue the pause is necessary to study environmental, energy, and health impacts tied to hyperscale AI infrastructure, while industry advocates warn such a move could signal that New York is hostile to future technology investment.
