Milldam’s Adam Waitkunas was recently featured in Bisnow on the rise of bipartisan resistance to Data Center Development. As Adam noted, “untraditional alignments” are forming across the political spectrum, with local communities uniting around shared concerns such as water, diesel emissions, noise, and rural character. While the data center industry has long been accustomed to addressing regulatory hurdles and policy approvals, the current wave of opposition is being driven by something more difficult to navigate: […]
Post Tagged with: "Milldam Public Relations"
Zoning In
This week’s lead story: St. Charles, Missouri, has become the first U.S. city to enact a citywide moratorium on data centers. The one-year ban underscores a growing wave of data center community resistance that has already stalled or stopped more than $64 billion in projects across 24 states. At the same time, in Arizona, Project Blue has resurfaced — Beale Infrastructure is pressing ahead in Pima County even after Tucson blocked water access and residents […]
Zoning In
From Virginia to Alabama to Delaware, opposition is forcing changes — and sometimes outright cancellations — of major projects. This week’s Zoning In tracks efforts by local leaders, legislators, and residents to demand more transparency, limit environmental impacts, and rewrite zoning codes. Whether it’s grassroots victories in Pittsylvania County or looming policy shifts in Nevada and Maryland, the message is clear: communities want a seat at the table. Massive Virginia data center development drives debate […]
Zoning In
As temperatures continue to rise, so does the scrutiny surrounding the energy, water, and regulatory impacts of data center growth across North America. From Virginia’s AI-fueled power crunch to a proposed megacenter in Delaware that would consume nearly twice the electricity of all the state’s homes, this week’s Zoning In dives into a wave of resistance, policy shifts, and big-picture questions. With moratoriums mounting, nuclear reactors gaining traction, and transparency being tested, the data center […]
Zoning In
As the fireworks of Independence Day fade, the battle over data center development is heating up nationwide. From zoning restrictions in Phoenix and Hobart to sweeping moratoriums in Georgia and Kentucky, local governments are drawing more precise lines around where and how data centers can operate. Fueled by environmental concerns, infrastructure strain, and public mistrust, residents are pushing back—often successfully—against projects they view as disruptive or opaque. A new national poll confirms the trend: most […]
Zoning In
The community relations battles and policy debates around U.S. data centers continue to accelerate — and the headlines are getting louder. This week’s Zoning In roundup brings one of our most diverse sets of stories yet: from a WIRED feature on how federal AI legislation may undermine local control over where data centers get built, to Dale Earnhardt’s widow facing nearly 200 protesting neighbors in North Carolina over her plan to redevelop Mooresville land into […]
Zoning In
This week’s Zoning In covers a range of new developments and growing opposition across the U.S. as communities, regulators, and tech giants navigate the complex realities of data center expansion. From Bessemer, AL to Chesapeake, VA, we’re tracking the $64 billion community relations wake-up call in action. Highlights include: Data Center Developments & Community Responses Bessemer, Alabama: Residents Oppose Massive Data Center ProjectA proposed 4.5-million-square-foot data center, dubbed Project Marvel, is facing strong opposition from […]
Zoning In
Arizona Eyes Nuclear Reactors for Data Center Power Arizona is exploring the use of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to power massive tech facilities. House Bill 2774 would allow for deployment of these “nuclear batteries” without standard environmental or zoning reviews. Advocates see it as a way to meet high energy demands; critics call it risky deregulation.Read the full article at PHOENIX Magazine $64 Billion in Data Center Projects Face Local Pushback A new report […]
Zoning In
This week’s update reveals the push-pull between data center growth and public oversight across the U.S. In Kentucky, Oldham County’s planning board is building a framework to regulate data centers more tightly. At the same time, West Virginia just passed a law that bypasses local zoning altogether to attract more projects. Meanwhile, power constraints in Pennsylvania have halted a long-rumored AWS development, and in Virginia, the battle continues over who should pay for infrastructure serving […]
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 […]


