Post Tagged with: "Data Center Zoning"

Zoning In

Zoning In

From Georgia to the Midwest, local governments are drawing hard lines around data center expansion — and this week, the pushback hit a new pitch. DeKalb County, Georgia extended its moratorium through mid-December while unveiling a detailed “tiered” rulebook that classifies projects as minor, major, or campus-scale and requires developers to submit comprehensive plans for noise, water, energy, transmission, and stormwater impacts. Meanwhile, St. Louis County Commissioner Ashley Grimm blasted fellow officials for signing nondisclosure […]

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Zoning In

Zoning In

From Indiana to California, developers and policymakers are navigating a wave of proposals driven by AI and hyperscale growth. Some regions, like Kansas and Indiana, are embracing the boom with new tax incentives and multi-billion-dollar investments from major tech players. However, local resistance is also intensifying: residents in Virginia, West Virginia, and Georgia are voicing concerns over noise, water usage, and environmental disruption, pressuring local leaders to slow down or reconsider projects altogether. On the […]

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Zoning In

Zoning In

This week in data center drama: community clashes, regulatory shakeups, and a growing call for accountability. In Alabama, Meta’s Huntsville campus is earning praise for its low noise levels, while Bessemer residents are suing to stop a $14B facility they say threatens their health and quality of life. In Indiana, a 95-year-old orchard is fighting to protect its rural charm. And in West Virginia, a new law stripping local zoning control is being slammed as […]

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Zoning In

Zoning In

This week, Pittsylvania County, VA, made headlines by firmly rejecting a hotly contested 750-acre data center and onsite power proposal after six months of public debate and protests. The Board of Supervisors denied the rezoning application in a 6-1 vote and blocked the developer’s last-minute withdrawal attempt, effectively delaying any reapplication for a year. The decision underscored the project’s deep community opposition, focused on rural preservation and environmental concerns, and spurred calls to update the […]

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Zoning In

Zoning In

This week’s headlines spotlight a growing national reckoning over the power, land, and local control issues tied to the explosive growth of AI-fueled data centers. In Washington, federal regulators rejected Amazon and Talen Energy’s request to revisit a ruling that blocks a co-located data center from ramping up power use at a Pennsylvania nuclear plant—further signaling increased scrutiny of behind-the-meter energy arrangements. At the state level, Arizona’s utility regulators launched a formal review of grid […]

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Zoning In

Zoning In

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 […]

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Zoning In

Zoning In

Data Center Challenges and Community Relations October 15, 2024 We’re excited to introduce a new addition to our content lineup: “Zoning In.” This weekly series informs the data center ecosystem of the latest local data center regulations and challenges in community relations nationwide. As data centers continue to garner mainstream coverage and residents deploy more sophisticated tactics and better organizing, these weekly updates will spotlight critical trends and challenges data centers encounter in different communities […]

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