In this week’s Zoning In, a $5 billion data center project in Georgia has ignited a jurisdictional dispute between Newton County and the city of Social Circle. Originally planned as “Newton Technology Park,” the project was opposed by county officials, prompting developers to rebrand it as “Social Circle Technology Park.” However, county records do not confirm the land’s annexation, and legal teams are now reviewing the conflicting claims. Meanwhile, Douglas County, GA, has enacted a […]
This week’s Zoning In covers significant developments in data center regulations across multiple states. In Reno, the City Council overturned the Planning Commission’s initial rejection of the Oppidan Data Center, approving the project despite water and power availability concerns. The decision follows increasing scrutiny from local officials as Reno experiences a surge in data center applications. Meanwhile, Stafford County narrowly voted against stricter zoning requirements for data centers, maintaining a by-right approval process that favors […]
From Arizona to Virginia and beyond, data center zoning and energy debates are heating up: More updates include protests over nuclear expansion in Arizona, a canceled data center project in Indiana, and a Texas public hearing on tax abatements for a $500M data center. Phoenix Revisits Data Center Zoning Policy Amid Land Use Concerns Phoenix city officials are reworking zoning laws for data centers, citing concerns over land and energy use. With data center development […]
As the data center industry surges, state legislatures reevaluate who should bear the costs of supporting power-hungry infrastructure. New bills in Texas, Virginia, Georgia, and California seek to shift grid impact expenses from ratepayers to developers while introducing stricter regulations on energy sourcing and emergency power controls. Meanwhile, debates over permitting processes, environmental concerns, and zoning laws continue to shape the industry’s expansion from Minnesota to Maryland. This week’s Zoning In also explores Amazon’s regulatory […]
Mississippi is making moves to attract data centers with Senate Bill SB 3168, offering tax exemptions for projects investing $250M+ and creating high-paying jobs. Meanwhile, Pittsylvania County, VA, faces heated opposition over a proposed 750-acre data center project, with environmental concerns clashing against economic benefits. Virginia’s ongoing data center boom is drawing legislative scrutiny as new laws aim to address noise and energy impacts. Georgia is also weighing new rules requiring data centers to cover […]
Welcome to this week’s edition of Zoning In! In Virginia, lawmakers are at odds over extending tax breaks for data centers through 2050. While some push for long-term incentives to keep Virginia competitive, others want to tie them to energy efficiency mandates. Meanwhile, due to rising electricity demands, Indiana is facing calls for a moratorium on new hyperscale developments. Texas is grappling with power shortages as it attracts massive AI-driven data center investments. California, too, […]
Data center zoning battles continue across the U.S., with local governments weighing economic benefits against environmental and infrastructure concerns. In Fredericksburg, VA, the Planning Commission narrowly voted against allowing by-right data center development, signaling potential delays for future projects. Meanwhile, Loudoun County is debating a similar move, and Reno is considering a temporary halt on new permits. On the incentive front, Minnesota lawmakers are evaluating whether to extend tax breaks for data centers, while Kentucky’s […]
This week’s Zoning In explores how rising data center demand is shaping energy policy, regulation, and community pushback nationwide. In Georgia, Georgia Power is reversing course on coal plant closures, citing surging data center-driven energy needs, while in Arizona, utilities are considering new nuclear plants to keep up with demand. Meanwhile, in Virginia, a proposed AI regulation bill could increase costs and potentially deter tech investment, impacting the state’s dominant data center market. At the […]
This week’s Zoning In update delves into the evolving regulatory and community landscapes shaping the data center industry. Among the headlines, Talen Energy is challenging FERC’s rejection of its interconnection agreement for a co-located Amazon data center at its Pennsylvania nuclear plant. This case could redefine how energy-intensive AI data centers partner directly with power plants, potentially reshaping the regulatory framework governing grid reliability and supply-demand balance. Meanwhile, in Georgia, the Public Service Commission has […]
This week’s Zoning In report covers a shift in U.S. presidential support for data centers, with notable advancements since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trump administration recognized data centers as essential infrastructure, setting the stage for the Biden administration’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, allocating $42.45 billion to close the digital divide. Additionally, various legislative actions underscore mounting tensions between developers and local communities. A lawsuit in Minnesota challenges large-scale data center projects, while […]
