October 22, 2026
A permanent public ledger of 155 verified actions on the record. Each entry links directly to its underlying primary government document, council minutes, regulatory filing, or corroborated news report.
Opposition and Press Signals for October 22, 2026
National press investigations, local moratoriums, litigation, and community ratepayer pushbackAJC poll: Georgians want government to regulate AI; most oppose data centers (opens in a new tab)
A University of Georgia poll found 60 percent of Georgia voters oppose construction of more data centers in the state, with opposition strongest among Democrats and independent voters ahead of the November 3 general election.
Residents Rally for Data Center Moratorium in Roanoke Valley (opens in a new tab)
Residents from across the Roanoke Valley gathered on October 22, 2026, to rally for a moratorium on data centers. The event was part of a statewide March for a Moratorium campaign coordinated by CCAN Action Fund, The Virginia Sierra Club, Tikkun Olam, ARTivisim, and Appalachian Voices, following Google's confirmation it was considering a data center at Wood Haven Technology Park.
Amazon explains shift in position on future data center developments in Northern Va. (opens in a new tab)
Amazon withdrew its proposal for four data centers on a George Washington University campus site in Loudoun County following community concerns about energy and water consumption. Loudoun County is considering a one year pause on new data center applications.
Residents rally against plans for Kentucky data center (opens in a new tab)
CNN correspondent reported on community opposition to artificial intelligence data center development across Kentucky.
UPDATE: Harmony Township cancels energy moratorium vote following legal challenges over public notice (opens in a new tab)
Harmony Township canceled its October 22 scheduled votes on proposed 24 month moratoria for data centers and other energy infrastructure after legal challenges over insufficient public notice under North Dakota open government law.
Where Michigan gubernatorial candidates stand on data centers (opens in a new tab)
Michigan gubernatorial candidates John James and Jocelyn Benson debated their positions on data center development in the 2026 election, with both supporting a moratorium but disagreeing on whether it should be statewide or locally determined.
Montgomery County tightens rules for data centers (opens in a new tab)
Montgomery County Commission approved stricter zoning and operational regulations for data centers, including 500 foot setbacks from industrial properties, minimum 10 acre and maximum 100 acre site requirements, and mandatory noise and utility plans.
Data Centers Emerge As Key Issue For Texas Campaigns (opens in a new tab)
Data center development has emerged as a significant electoral issue in multiple 2026 Texas campaigns, with candidates from both parties proposing stricter regulations and moratoriums amid public opposition.
A climate disaster rises in Western Pa. Jared Kushner is here for it. (opens in a new tab)
National press investigation by Philadelphia Inquirer columnist documents climate and health impacts of Homer City power plant and AI data center development, citing EPA projections of 13 to 22 premature deaths annually and 2.5 billion dollars in annual environmental damage.
Calloway County Fiscal Court Enacts One Year Data Center Moratorium (opens in a new tab)
Fiscal Court voted 4-1 to establish a twelve month moratorium on new data center developments while local zoning and infrastructure standards are drafted.
Buxton voters approve temporary data center ban (opens in a new tab)
Buxton Maine voters approved a 180 day moratorium on large scale data center facilities at a special town meeting, joining several other Maine communities that enacted similar restrictions.
Benson, James Clash Over Michigan Data Center Moratorium (opens in a new tab)
Michigan gubernatorial candidates Jocelyn Benson and John James debated data center policy during the 2026 campaign, with both supporting a moratorium but disagreeing on scope, and disputing details of Benson's involvement in the Saline Township Stargate project.
City of Umatilla declares state of emergency over Governor's order pausing data center development (opens in a new tab)
Governor Tina Kotek issued an executive order on September 8 pausing state agency approval of data center permits through July 1, 2027. The City of Umatilla declared a local state of emergency in response, estimating losses of 5 billion dollars in private investment, over 1000 construction jobs, and 6 million dollars in direct municipal revenue.
Venture Global lays plans for data centers next to LNG sites in Cameron, Plaquemines (opens in a new tab)
Cameron Parish elected officials express concern over lack of advance communication from Venture Global regarding data center expansion plans, citing loss of public trust when constituents learn of developments simultaneously with officials.
Maryland Gubernatorial Candidate Calls for Statewide Hyperscale Moratorium (opens in a new tab)
Republican nominee Dan Cox pledged an immediate statewide executive moratorium on data center construction if elected, citing grid reliability and local impacts.
Voters are looking for answers on data centers from Indiana's secretary of state candidates (opens in a new tab)
Data centers emerged as a significant campaign issue in Indiana's 2026 secretary of state race, with candidates addressing voter concerns about water depletion, tax incentives and environmental impacts.
City of Umatilla declares emergency due to financial concerns from data center permit pause (opens in a new tab)
Governor Tina Kotek suspended air and water discharge permits for data center development. The City of Umatilla declared a local state of emergency citing anticipated losses of 5 billion dollars in private investment, over 1000 construction jobs, and 6 million dollars in direct financial losses.
Somerset County Passes Strict New Rules on Data Centers Before Any Project Is Even Filed (opens in a new tab)
Somerset County commissioners unanimously adopted a data center ordinance requiring 150 percent onsite power generation and 1,000 foot setbacks from existing homes, taking effect immediately before any project was filed.
Rural Kentucky counties: Data center tax breaks aren't the answer (opens in a new tab)
Rural Kentucky county residents and officials oppose expanded data center tax incentives and advocate for local moratoriums, citing concerns about revenue loss, environmental impacts, and strain on county services.
Maplewood Bans Data Centers And Detention Centers, Joins 110 NJ Towns (opens in a new tab)
Maplewood Township passed an ordinance designating data centers as non permitted uses in all zoning districts, part of a statewide wave of municipal bans driven by concern over the CoreWeave AI data center project in Kenilworth.
Suffolk bans data centers, but it won't last forever (opens in a new tab)
Suffolk City Council unanimously approved a temporary prohibition on data centers and data center development, directing planning staff to engage residents and develop new regulations before reauthorizing data centers under city terms.
Linden Joins Growing List Of New Jersey Municipalities Banning Ai Data Centers (opens in a new tab)
Linden City Council approved an ordinance banning artificial intelligence data centers, joining more than 100 New Jersey municipalities that have enacted data center restrictions or bans.
EGLE takes comments on wastewater permit for onsite water treatment at Saline Township data center (opens in a new tab)
Residents raised concerns about cumulative water impacts during a public hearing on the wastewater permit for the Saline Township data center's onsite treatment facility, with concerns about downstream effects in the Saline River and cumulative discharge sources.
In Virginia, rescue dogs stop using walking trails as data center work rattles shelter (opens in a new tab)
Residents and Hanover Humane Society in Virginia rallied against data center construction by Oppidan citing noise and vibrations that disrupted rescue dog welfare, with concerns about additional warehouse development.
Grant County enacts New Mexico's latest data center moratorium (opens in a new tab)
Grant County Commission approved a one year moratorium on data center development and related infrastructure by a 4-1 vote while the county evaluates regulations for proposed projects near Hachita.
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Grant County
Grant County commissioners approved a one year moratorium on data center development.
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Denton
Denton City Council voted to adopt development code amendments restricting data center zoning, water cooling methods and proximity to homes.
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Dana Guernsey, CEO, Voltus
"This significant expansion of our work with Google translates data center growth into direct economic benefits for businesses and homes... [They] return value to customers and reduced bills for all electricity users." Said October 22, 2026, The New York Times.
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Ellen Zuckerman, Head of Energy Market Development for the Americas, Google
"Distributed energy resources are powerful tools for managing a modern, reliable grid while keeping energy affordable." Said October 22, 2026, The New York Times.
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James Stewart Jr., Mayor, Irondale, AL
"This is an industry that is rapidly changing from day to day, and at some point in time, you've got to address what the problem is, instead of just kind of kicking it down the road. That's been our position, that we need to have something in place, instead of just being fearful like other communities and deciding the easy way out, which is to go ahead and do a moratorium." Said October 22, 2026, Irondale Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing.
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Nicole Ghio, California Director, Food & Water Watch
"I have a hard time remembering something that caught fire the way the opposition to data centers has. Local municipalities have been able to respond quicker to the grassroots wave of opposition of people saying, Hold on, let's press pause. Let's actually figure out what we're doing before we commit to this huge change." Said October 22, 2026, Interview with CalMatters.
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Joe LaCava, San Diego City Council President, San Diego City Council
"I've seen many projects in my time. What we don't need is a resource-guzzling data center in the middle of our city." Said October 22, 2026, San Diego City Hall.
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Laura Merrifield Wilson, Political science professor, University of Indianapolis
"It is not a real issue of relevance for the office. But the SOS race is arguably the most exciting on the ballot for many Hoosiers this fall, and the topic of data centers is likewise a very hot topic, so it makes sense in that regard that the two overlap." Said October 22, 2026, The Statehouse File article.
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Beau Bayh, Democratic secretary of state candidate, Indiana Democratic Party
"will protect state tax dollars and lower Hoosiers' electric bills." Said October 22, 2026, Campaign statement.
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Mike Haines, Community advocate and Owen County resident, Owen County community group
"We're totally all volunteer in this county. We don't have a paid firefighter anywhere. Of course, with the price of diesel right now and with everything else, they're hurting for funding." Said October 22, 2026, Owen County community advocacy.
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Mike Haines, Community advocate and Owen County resident, Owen County community group
"They're going to start construction and they're going to get these tax breaks, and in the six to seven years that it takes to get one of these things up and running, any point they could just say, 'Nah, we don't need it,' and walk away." Said October 22, 2026, Owen County community advocacy.
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Michael Crenshaw, Economic analyst, <UNKNOWN>
"And we all knew the 50 billion investment number, but what you can see is that it well exceeds any other data center." Said October 22, 2026, Northeast Louisiana Economic Summit.
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Mark Daigle, Cameron Parish Police Jury representative, Cameron Parish Police Jury, District 5
"And when we start getting calls as elected officials from our constituents, and we tell them we found out like them, I think they lose a lot of hope in us as elected officials to do what's right for them." Said October 22, 2026, Cameron Parish Police Jury.
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Mark Daigle, Cameron Parish Police Jury representative, Cameron Parish Police Jury, District 5
"I actually saw it last night right before I went to bed." Said October 22, 2026, Cameron Parish Police Jury.
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Loren C. Scott and Associates, President
"In the case of Meta, there's 1,000 high-paying permanent jobs. You're way better off than you were, but you're not going to be as well off as you were during construction. A whole lot more jobs involved in building the plant than in operating it." Said October 22, 2026, Northeast Louisiana Economic Summit.
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Republican gubernatorial candidate
Dan Cox said if elected he will immediately order a statewide moratorium on data center construction. Said October 22, 2026.
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Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate, Michigan Democratic Party
"supports a moratorium on new data-center development until safeguards are in place to protect water resources, limit electricity-cost increases for residents and give local communities a voice." Said October 22, 2026, WDIV gubernatorial debate.
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Tom Braum, <UNKNOWN>, <UNKNOWN>
"This permit itself is just one piece of the puzzle that focuses on their sanitary wastewater." Said October 22, 2026, Michigan EGLE public hearing.
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Sean Sutton, <UNKNOWN>, <UNKNOWN>
"I'm very concerned about downstream effects. The impoundment about six miles downstream here in Saline City is where nutrients and bacteria will settle and will accumulate." Said October 22, 2026, Michigan EGLE public hearing.
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John James, Republican gubernatorial candidate, Republican Party of Michigan
"This will be led by the locals and not by Lansing." Said October 22, 2026, WDIV gubernatorial debate.
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Carole Herbert, Local resident and fourth generation landowner, Williams County, ND
"I just want to make sure that North Dakota still keeps its pristine environments that we have, so that our children and our grandchildren can grow up and be farmers. I just want to make sure that we have in place language that people understand that we are protecting and are going to do this for our land." Said October 22, 2026, Williams County Commission meeting.
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Steve Kemp, County commissioner, Williams County Commission
"We're in full respect for the land and everything that you're asking for, because we got burned at Atlas. We implemented the first data center ordinance in the state and a lot of other counties have modeled it after us." Said October 22, 2026, Williams County Commission meeting.
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Blake Nixon, Chief Executive Officer, Geronimo Power
"We would be happy to slow down and talk. We've been offering that all the way through. There's no interest from the other side." Said October 22, 2026, KFGO's News and Views with Joel Heitkamp.
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Blake Nixon, Chief Executive Officer, Geronimo Power
"We would be happy to slow down and talk. We've been offering that all the way through. There's no interest from the other side." Said October 22, 2026, KFGO's News and Views with Joel Heitkamp.
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Derek Armstead, Mayor, Linden
"These facilities can require tremendous amounts of electricity and water, yet they don't necessarily create the number of permanent jobs you would expect from a project of that size. For a city like Linden, the potential benefits simply do not outweigh the concerns." Said October 22, 2026, Linden City Council.
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Mike Gonnelli, Mayor, Secaucus
"I'm asking you to take a look at what's proposed, sit with us and talk about it." Said October 22, 2026, New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority Board meeting.
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Kathy McFarlande, Local resident, Secaucus
"I want to commend him (Gonnelli) for trying to seek limits, but the word that frightens me is 'future data centers,' Since 6.5-square-mile Secaucus is already inundated with data centers, I have to question how many future data centers are proposed for this town?" Said October 22, 2026, New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority Board meeting.
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Nancy Stephens, Grant County Commissioner, Grant County Commission
"We should not be hasty. I think good things are worth waiting for. I am not against all data centers. … There might be a way where it could be done right, and we have nothing to fear." Said October 22, 2026, Grant County Commission meeting, Silver City, New Mexico.
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David Stockdale, City Manager, City of Umatilla
"This is about far more than data centers. It is about the families whose livelihoods depend on these jobs, the local businesses that rely on a strong and stable economy, and the residents who trust us to make responsible, long-term decisions for our community's future." Said October 22, 2026.
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Alex Bomstein, Advocate, Climate advocacy
"The AI data center boom is truly the greatest threat to a stable climate that we face today." Said October 22, 2026, Article commentary.
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Irvin Kimmel Jr., Commissioner, Somerset County
"We have incorporated a lot of the public comment in there." Said October 22, 2026, WTAJ.
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Wayne Christian, Texas Railroad Commissioner, Texas Railroad Commission
"The energy solution is straightforward: require data center developers to invest in their own reliable power, including natural gas and nuclear, rather than shifting the burden to ratepayers. Done right, we can protect Texas families, keep electricity costs in check and strengthen grid reliability." Said October 22, 2026, Houston public statement.
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Matt Krause, Tarrant County Commissioner, Tarrant County
"We understand the state's going to have to speak to the data center issue. But leave a lot of regulation of what it looks like, how it functions in each and every one of our localities to the local government." Said October 22, 2026, Fort Worth Report 2026 Growth Summit.
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Sid Miller, Former Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Texas
"there's no oversight, no regulation." Said October 22, 2026, MS NOW interview.
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Elizabeth Beck, City Council Member, Fort Worth City Council
"Data centers are not hurting for funds. I'm not a huge fan of incentives anyway. As the city of Fort Worth, we have to be very careful with those." Said October 22, 2026, Fort Worth Report 2026 Growth Summit.
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Timothy Wheels, Resident and AI accountability company owner, Suffolk, Virginia
"My own work relies on AI technology. And whether or not they're built here or another smaller town or community, somebody's gonna bear the cost and detriment to the environment." Said October 22, 2026, Suffolk City Council meeting.
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Juli Briskman, Loudoun County Supervisor, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors
"I would rather see no NDAs between the developer, the land use attorneys, and the end user." Said October 22, 2026, Public statement to WTOP News.
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Shannon Kellogg, Vice President of Public Policy, Amazon Web Services
"Just this week we marked our 20th anniversary of operating data center infrastructure here in Virginia, as part of our Amazon Web Services footprint." Said October 22, 2026, Public policy statement.
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John Rector, Council Member, Suffolk City Council
"The prohibition is meant to give planning staff time to engage with other localities and residents, given the impact data centers have on communities." Said October 22, 2026, Suffolk City Council meeting.
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MyChesCo
Pennsylvania estimates approximately 130 active data centers with another 55 proposed, planned or under construction. Harrisburg, PA, 2026.
Key Figure 130 data centers -
Google Funds 1,070 MW Virtual Power Plant on PJM Grid to Pay Locals for Using Less Power
Less than 24 hours after Trump's call for community payouts, Google and distributed energy aggregator Voltus announced a 1,070 MW expansion to their PJM Virtual Power Plant (bringing total contracted capacity to 1,170 MW through 2040, building on a 100 MW June 2026 pilot). Equivalently sized to a large nuclear reactor, the program pays homes, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities across 13 states and DC to reduce power usage during peak grid strain, creating a private market payout mechanism that unlocks near term data center interconnection capacity.
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Meta gives tour of Huntsville data center amid questions over energy, water use - WAFF
Meta hosted a tour of its operational Huntsville data center, fielding local questions about energy and water use.
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Meta’s $1.5 billion Huntsville data center draws local talent, keeps power and water commitments on track - 256 Today
Meta's Huntsville data center, with combined investment exceeding 1.5 billion dollars across two phases, is nearly complete on an expansion and employs more than 300 people.
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Meta Gives Inside Look of Huntsville Data Center | Oct. 21, 2026 | News 19 at 6 p.m. - Yahoo
Meta gave local media a tour inside its Huntsville data center.
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Untangling the accounting fight reshaping Google’s Arkansas power deal - Latitude Media
Google and Entergy Arkansas amended their power supply agreement for the West Memphis data center to resolve accounting disputes over infrastructure financing and increase the campus's maximum power demand with additional battery and transmission projects.
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California cities pull the plug on data centers after state regulations don't scale up fast enough
At least 26 local resolutions, moratoriums, or bans on data centers have been passed or proposed in California since June 2026, despite seven new statewide regulations. Major cities including Oakland and San Francisco approved moratoriums, while Los Angeles County postponed a permanent ban vote after receiving substantial public opposition.
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California’s Environmental Reform Vote Spurs Data Center Debate - Bloomberg Law News
Proposition 45 on California's November 3 ballot would speed up California Environmental Quality Act review for projects deemed essential, including data centers, sparking debate over whether it is a backdoor for data center development.
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Vantage seeks pause in new data center rules as it considers new sites - Colorado Politics
Vantage Data Centers asked Aurora to pause new data center regulations for 90 days while seeking alternative sites for a proposed project.
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GOP Rep. Gabe Evans on running in competitive Colorado district, data center regulation and more - CBS News
Republican Rep. Gabe Evans discusses his Ratepayer Protection Act, which passed the House but failed in the Senate by three votes, aimed at preventing utility customers from absorbing data center power costs.
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Amid data center debate, tech giants promise more money, less secrets
Technology giants promise reduced tax incentives, greater transparency and increased community payments amid growing opposition to data center development.
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Why New England doesn't have large AI data centers, and what the region is doing to prepare for them
New England has about 100 data centers, mostly smaller colocation facilities in the Boston area, none at large hyperscale AI training scale, with regional experts discussing why the region lacks such facilities and how it is preparing for potential future arrivals.
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Why New England doesn't have large AI data centers, and what the region is doing to prepare for them - Connecticut Public
New England has approximately 100 data centers, mostly colocation facilities in the Greater Boston area, but no large scale AI training data centers, though some facilities support AI related functions.
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Conservative media founder says Florida provided a model for welcoming data centers - Florida Politics
Jennifer Pellegrino, founder of Defending Forgotten America, said Florida has been welcoming to data centers under Governor Ron DeSantis and that the benefits for rural communities must be better communicated.
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AJC poll: Georgians want government to regulate AI; most oppose data centers
A University of Georgia poll of 1,000 likely general election voters found nearly 70 percent support government regulation of artificial intelligence, while three of five oppose additional data center construction in the state.
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Blasting begins today at Greenpoint Data Center site - WJBF
Google began blasting and excavation at its Columbia County data center site in Harlem, Georgia, scheduled through the end of the year, with controlled daytime work to minimize neighborhood impact.
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CSI report: Data centers' $53 billion investment through 2031
The Common Sense Institute released a report projecting 53 billion dollars in data center investment in Iowa by 2031, with 38 billion dollars already announced for 2027 to 2031. The report found Iowa ranks highest in the Midwest for operating data center capacity per capita.
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Study: Data Center Investment to Support Thousands of Jobs in Iowa - NewsRadio 600 WMT
A Common Sense Institute study found Iowa data center investments totaled $15.1 billion through 2026, with $38 billion more announced for 2027 to 2031, projected to support 29,597 jobs by 2031.
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Iowa on track to triple data center operations by 2031 - KCRG
Iowa is on track to triple its data center operations by 2031.
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Data center backlash set to sway midterm elections - Idaho State Journal
An Idaho newspaper reports that data center opposition has grown from local planning meetings to become a flashpoint in midterm election politics.
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Data centers will cost ComEd $3 billion but consumer groups worry Illinois households will be on the hook
Illinois consumer advocates reported ComEd projects spending $3.1 billion to connect data centers to the grid but has collected only $721 million in developer deposits, and pushed for legislation requiring data centers to pay all costs before connection.
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As a plan seeks to turn the Alton Steel site into a data center, residents weigh in - First Alert 4
TerraWatt proposes a data center project on the former Alton Steel site in Alton, Illinois, a 381 acre property with planned 200 megawatt blocks at approximately $2.6 billion each, subject to city rezoning approval.
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Voters are looking for answers on data centers from Indiana's secretary of state candidates
Indiana secretary of state candidates discussed data center policy during the 2026 campaign despite limited office relevance, with voters expressing concerns about water resources, tax abatements and environmental impacts as more than half of Indiana counties have restricted or banned development.
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Michigan City Residents Seek Stronger Data Center Restrictions Amid Concerns Over Google Project - 95.3 MNC
Michigan City residents are urging stronger restrictions on data center development as the City Council considers a moratorium through 2028, with concerns focused on exemptions that could allow Google's Project Maize to proceed.
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Here are the Indiana Counties That Are Putting the Brakes on Data Centers - WOMI Owensboro
More than 50 Indiana counties have adopted data center restrictions; Warrick County considers an ordinance with a hearing November 2, and Vanderburgh County has a 180 day moratorium approved October 5.
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Digital Realty proposes 1GW data center campus in Indiana - ET Datacenters
Digital Realty proposed a three building 1 gigawatt data center campus on 476 acres in Kokomo, Indiana, expecting completion by 2033 and projected to generate $44 million to $55 million in annual property tax revenue.
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Alvarado, Dembo spar over grocery prices, housing, government benefits and data centers in debate - WKYT
In a Kentucky congressional debate, Democratic candidate Zach Dembo said ratepayers should not pay for data center costs and communities should not have them forced on them, while Republican Ralph Alvarado said data center decisions should remain local and facilities should pay their own costs.
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Rural Kentucky counties: Data center tax breaks aren't the answer
Kentucky lawmakers consider expanding data center tax incentives despite estimates the existing break could cost the state over one billion dollars in lost revenue; rural counties seek moratoriums on new construction.
tax moratorium legislation -
Residents rally against plans for Kentucky data center
CNN correspondent Donie O'Sullivan reported on community opposition to artificial intelligence data center development in Kentucky.
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Fiscal Court approves data center moratorium of one year - Murray Ledger and Times
Calloway County Fiscal Court voted 4-1 to adopt a one year moratorium on new data center development and expansions, with exceptions for projects meeting specified conditions.
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Venture Global lays plans for data centers next to LNG sites in Cameron, Plaquemines
Venture Global announced plans to expand power generation at its Louisiana LNG facilities in Cameron and Plaquemines parishes to potentially enable adjacent data centers with up to 10 gigawatts of compute capacity.
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New economic report shows Meta's huge impact on the region
An economic analysis presented at the Northeast Louisiana Economic Summit revealed that Meta's data center project has driven significant sales tax growth across 10 parishes, with Richland Parish sales tax up 396 percent from 2024 to 2026. The region is projected to add approximately 4,200 jobs over the next two years as a result of project related economic activity.
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As Entergy pushes to fast-track 10 new gas plants for Meta, energy advocates head to court to protect Louisianans and their utility rates
Energy advocates filed a court challenge to a Louisiana Public Service Commission decision that allowed Meta to conceal information about electricity demands and job creation for its North Louisiana data center project.
litigation ratepayer_backlash power -
Facing pushback on data centers, tech giants are promising hosts more money and fewer secrets
Tech giants including Google, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft committed to increased financial offers to host communities and reduced secrecy about data center projects amid growing public opposition.
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Cox calls for permanent ban on hyperscale data centers in Maryland - The Frederick News-Post
Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox said if elected he will immediately order a statewide moratorium on data center construction in Maryland.
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Buxton voters approve temporary data center ban
Buxton, Maine voters approved a 180 day moratorium on large scale data center facilities at a special town meeting, joining several other Maine towns that enacted similar restrictions.
moratorium legislation -
Benson, James Clash Over Michigan Data Center Moratorium
Michigan gubernatorial candidates Jocelyn Benson and John James both support a moratorium on data center development but disagree on whether it should be statewide or locally controlled, and dispute details of the Saline Township Stargate project.
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EGLE takes comments on wastewater permit for onsite water treatment at Saline Township data center
Michigan's environmental agency held a public hearing on a wastewater permit for the onsite treatment facility at the Saline Township data center under construction by OpenAI, Oracle and Related Digital, with residents raising concerns about cumulative water impacts.
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Where Michigan gubernatorial candidates stand on data centers
Michigan gubernatorial candidates John James and Jocelyn Benson discussed their positions on data center development during a 2026 campaign debate, with both supporting a moratorium but disagreeing on scope and implementation.
elections moratorium -
Minnesota governor debate: Data center construction - Yahoo
Minnesota Governor debate discusses data center construction expansion across the state and community opposition to projects.
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Data center debate becomes election issue in Minnesota - Enterprise Dispatch
Minnesota coalition launches voter resource website on data center impacts before 2026 election, pushing for stronger state safeguards during 2027 legislative session.
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Minnesota Governor Debate: Data center construction - FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
Senator Klobuchar and Minnesota Speaker Lisa Demuth addressed how they would respond to large tech companies building data centers in small municipalities amid growing community opposition.
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Data center debate prompts board to take closer look at UDO - The Sanford Herald
Lee County commissioners called for a workshop on the Unified Development Ordinance after approving a data center on Lower Moncure Road prompted community concerns about noise, water, and electricity use.
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Geronimo Power CEO offers six-month data center pause ahead of disputed Harmony Township moratorium vote
Geronimo Power CEO Blake Nixon offered a six month pause on his company's data center application as an alternative to Harmony Township's proposed two year moratorium. Nixon also argued that the township's moratorium vote would be legally void because notice was published only 13 days in advance rather than the required 15 days.
moratorium litigation -
UPDATE: Harmony Township cancels energy moratorium vote following legal challenges over public notice
Harmony Township canceled its scheduled October 22 vote on proposed 24 month moratoria for data centers, solar, wind, battery storage, natural gas and transmission lines after legal challenges revealed the public notice was published only 13 days in advance, two days short of North Dakota's statutory 15 day requirement.
moratorium legislation litigation -
Williams County rejects data center ordinance amendments request
Williams County Commission rejected a resident proposal to amend its data center ordinance to require additional environmental, cultural, auditory, visual, socioeconomic and water studies prior to data center approval. Commissioners noted they already maintain the state's first data center ordinance and have discretion to order studies on a case by case basis.
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Harmony Township cancels special meeting on data center moratorium
Harmony Township Board canceled a special meeting scheduled to vote on six proposed moratoria including one for data centers.
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Maplewood Bans Data Centers And Detention Centers, Joins 110 NJ Towns
Maplewood Township approved an ordinance prohibiting data centers and detention centers from all zoning districts, joining over 110 New Jersey municipalities with similar bans amid regional concern over CoreWeave's 1.8 billion dollar AI data center project in nearby Kenilworth.
zoning moratorium legislation protest -
New CoreSite Data Center On County Ave. Will Be 4 Stories, 446,761 Square Feet
Secaucus approved a four story 446,761 square foot CoreSite data center at 215 County Avenue. The town is now proposing height restrictions limiting future data centers near residential areas to two stories, though the approved CoreSite project remains exempt.
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Linden Joins Growing List Of New Jersey Municipalities Banning Ai Data Centers
Linden City Council approved an ordinance banning artificial intelligence data centers, becoming one of more than 100 New Jersey municipalities with similar restrictions. City officials cited massive power and water consumption and insufficient permanent job creation as reasons for the ban.
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Grant County enacts New Mexico's latest data center moratorium
Grant County, New Mexico approved a one year moratorium on data center development by a 4-1 vote while the county considers adopting regulations, as it evaluates a proposed solar farm and data center near Hachita.
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State Sen. Carrie Hamblen, discusses concerns around Project Jupiter.
State Senator Carrie Hamblen discussed concerns about Project Jupiter, a hyperscale data center in Southern New Mexico, during a podcast interview.
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Ramaswamy Talks Taxes, Data Centers in Ohio Governor Race - Hoodline
Ohio Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy proposed requiring new large data centers to generate their own power and pay communities local dividends, prioritizing industrial sites over farmland.
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WATCH: Ramaswamy says he will sell stock in data center industries if elected. Acton says she already sold hers - Journal-News.com
Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was asked about his financial ties to data center companies and said he would sell any stock if elected.
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Merrin took $10,500 tied to data center financiers, including Blackstone CEO behind $10 billion Ohio project - TiffinOhio.net
Ohio congressional candidate Derek Merrin received $10,500 from Blackstone executives and AI infrastructure investors with stakes in major data center projects, including QTS's planned $10 billion Van Wert campus.
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Ramaswamy says he will sell stock in data center industries if elected. Acton says she already sold hers - Dayton Daily News
Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said he would divest data center industry stocks if elected, while opponent Amy Acton said she already sold hers to avoid conflicts of interest.
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Enough is enough in Ohio on polluting data center gas power plants - Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio Power Siting Board holds hearing on PowerConneX 3 gas plant to power data center; writer argues seven gas plants proposed for New Albany business park are too polluting and inefficient.
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New study finds widespread public opposition to data center construction and tax breaks in Ohio - Spectrum News
Survey of 1,650 Ohioans finds 55 percent oppose data center construction and 65 percent oppose tax breaks; 57 percent support constitutional amendment banning large data centers over 25 MW.
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NERC Committee Approves Next Large Loads Project - RTO Insider
NERC Standards Committee approved a new standards project on ride through and active power recovery requirements for computational loads.
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Ohioans Strongly Oppose Data Center Expansion and Tax Breaks; Express Deep Patriotism Amid National Direction Concerns - Ohio Northern University
Ohio Northern University poll finds 55% of Ohioans oppose data center construction, 65% oppose tax breaks, and 57% would support a constitutional amendment banning data centers exceeding 25 megawatts.
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Data center interim study - Tulsa World
Oklahoma legislature held an interim study on data center development in September 2026 led by Rep. Mark Chapman.
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City of Umatilla declares emergency due to financial concerns from data center permit pause
The Umatilla City Council declared a local state of emergency in response to Governor Tina Kotek's directive suspending air and water discharge permits for data centers, estimating losses of 5 billion dollars in private investment and over 1000 construction jobs.
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City of Umatilla declares state of emergency over Governor's order pausing data center development
The City of Umatilla declared a local state of emergency in response to Governor Tina Kotek's executive order pausing data center permitting through July 1, 2027, citing expected financial losses to the municipality.
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Wyden Data Center Tax Plan, Tariff Refunds in Salem
Sen. Ron Wyden outlined proposals to tax artificial intelligence data centers and accelerate tariff refunds at a Salem business forum. His plan includes changes to federal tax incentives and a new excise tax to help fund worker retraining and address costs created by data center development.
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Oregon counties, cities say data center moratorium could cost them millions
Gov. Kotek's data center permit moratorium through July has prompted Umatilla and other eastern Oregon communities to oppose it, citing millions in lost tax revenue and fees.
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Archbald council unanimously denies zoning for hyperscale data center campus in borough - WVIA Public Media
Archbald Borough Council unanimously rejected a zoning request for the 14 building Wildcat Ridge Data Center Campus on 578 acres, with community members and advocacy groups celebrating the decision amid developer appeal prospects.
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A climate disaster rises in Western Pa. Jared Kushner is here for it.
The Homer City power plant redevelopment backed by Kushner's Affinity Partners will include 36 AI data centers powered by a 4.7 gigawatt natural gas facility, projected to increase Pennsylvania carbon emissions by 15 percent.
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Somerset County Passes Strict New Rules on Data Centers Before Any Project Is Even Filed
Somerset County commissioners unanimously adopted a data center ordinance requiring 150 percent onsite power generation and 1,000 foot setbacks from existing homes, taking effect immediately before any project was filed.
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Pa. lawmakers approve school cell phone ban but punt on skill games, data centers - The Morning Call
Pennsylvania lawmakers approved a school cell phone ban but failed to pass bills on data center moratoriums or regulations despite community opposition, citing partisan disagreement.
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Hazle Twp. sets special meeting for data center ordinance - Times Leader
Hazle Township Planning Commission scheduled a special meeting for October 27 to discuss and receive public comment on a proposed data center ordinance that would permit data centers by special exception in the I-1 Industrial District, require setbacks of 1,250 feet from residential areas, mandate closed loop cooling systems, and impose environmental and operational standards.
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Full story: Archbald council unanimously denies Wildcat Ridge Data Center Campus - Scranton Times-Tribune
Archbald Borough Council unanimously denied the Wildcat Ridge Data Center Campus on October 21, 2026, rejecting a proposal for 14 data centers across 574 acres that would have consumed 3.3 million gallons of water daily in summer, required 1.6 gigawatts of power, and relied on 588 backup diesel generators.
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Upper Burrell Planners OK Data Center Rules 5-0; Gas Mandate Stays - Marcellus Drilling News
Upper Burrell Township planning commission recommended a data center ordinance requiring baseload power generation, with supervisors holding a public hearing before the township's moratorium expires November 2.
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How data center battles in the Philadelphia suburbs could impact party control of the Pa. legislature
Data centers emerged as a central bipartisan issue in Pennsylvania's 2026 state Senate races, particularly in Montgomery and Berks counties where two proposed hyperscale projects frame a tightly contested election.
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Pennsylvania House Votes to Deny Data Centers Utility Status - MyChesCo
Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 202-1 to prohibit data centers from obtaining public utility status, preventing developers from using eminent domain to override local zoning and acquire property for privately operated facilities.
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Rhoden discusses taxes, data centers during Mitchell visit - Mitchell Daily Republic
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden told the Mitchell Rotary Club that his administration evaluates data centers as economic development projects and supports safeguards to protect utility customers and local resources.
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Montgomery County tightens rules for data centers
Montgomery County Commission approved new zoning and operational regulations for data centers and power plants, including minimum acreage, setback distances, noise plans, and utility confirmations to address community concerns.
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TCEQ closes online permitting system, after watchdogs accuse agency of violating data center pause - Houston Public Media
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shut down its online permit system after watchdog groups said it violated Governor Abbott's pause on data center permits by approving stormwater permits.
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Texas RRC's Christian backs Wright on data centers funding own gas power
Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian endorsed Energy Secretary Chris Wright's position that data center developers should fund their own power infrastructure rather than shifting costs to ratepayers. Christian emphasized the need for communities to decide data center hosting.
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Data Centers Emerge As Key Issue For Texas Campaigns
Data center development has become a central issue in multiple 2026 Texas election races, with candidates from both parties calling for stricter oversight and potential moratoriums. A University of Texas poll found 57 percent of Texans oppose hosting a data center in their community.
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Texas' air has gotten cleaner. The data center boom could change that - Yahoo
A Houston nonprofit modeled how data center emissions could change Texas air quality, finding most outcomes harm air if powered by natural gas plants.
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American Fusion? Advances Texatron? Commercialization With Four New Texas Data Center Proposals, New Research Facility, Planned North Texas Research Campus And Investment Banking Negotiations - marketscreener.com
American Fusion Inc. announced it is preparing proposals for at least four additional Texas data center projects to integrate fusion power generation systems under a power as a service model.
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Texas Paused Data Center Hookups,2 Power Stocks Are Waiting on the Verdict - MarketBeat
Texas regulators audit data center projects on ERCOT grid while NRG Energy and Vistra await timing for power deliveries.
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Texas Data Centers Threaten to Overturn Decades of Air Quality Improvements - PCMag
Houston Advanced Research Center warns that Texas data center construction could reverse decades of air quality gains, with NOx rising 135 percent, VOCs up 30 percent, and PM2.5 returning to early-2000s levels.
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Despite Abbott moratorium, Texas kept issuing data center permits - San Antonio Report
Texas state regulators suspended at least 16 data center permits issued after Gov. Abbott's September moratorium and shut down automated filing system, requiring physical applications for review.
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Texas data centers could return pollution to 2000s levels , The Verge - UA.NEWS
A Houston Advanced Research Center report forecasts that if all planned Texas data centers connect to the state's power grid as expected, fine particulate matter emissions from the power sector could more than triple and nitrogen oxide emissions could rise 136 percent within five years.
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Denton officials pass development code updates for data centers - Community Impact Newspaper
Denton City Council adopted development code amendments restricting data center zoning, water cooling methods and proximity to residential areas.
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Kinder Morgan commits to $4.2B Texas gas pipeline to fuel hyperscale data center power - investingLive
Kinder Morgan committed to build a 4.2 billion dollar Permian Link gas pipeline with 434 miles of capacity to supply 2.8 billion cubic feet a day of natural gas from the Permian Basin to power hyperscale data centers starting in 2030.
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Facing pushback on data centers, tech giants are promising more money, fewer secrets - NBC Connecticut
Tech giants Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft pledged increased transparency and community spending on data center projects, including ending non disclosure agreements and raising financial incentives to host communities.
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Video shows Utah police dragging woman from public meeting following contentious data center vote - Yahoo
The Utah County Planning Commission unanimously passed a data center ordinance during a meeting where police forcibly removed a young woman, an anti data center advocate, reportedly leaving her with a concussion after she was denied the opportunity for public comment.
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Unanimous Vote, Zero Public Input, One Viral Arrest: Utah County Just Ignited a Data Center War - Gadget Review
Utah County Planning Commission unanimously recommended a data center zoning ordinance on October 20, 2026, despite opposition from about 100 residents, with a 300,000 gallon annual cooling water cap and monitoring requirements.
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Utah County officer assaults woman protesting AI data center - Anadolu Ajansı
Utah County deputy confronted protester Aspen Azalea during data center zoning meeting on October 20, 2026, resulting in reported injuries including concussion and jaw trauma.
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Data Center Protester Accused Of Groin Strike Before Deputy 'Slammed' Her Down - AOL.com
Utah County Planning Commission approved data center zoning on October 20, 2026, after which a deputy removed protester Aspen Azalea from the meeting, with contested accounts of the confrontation.
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Woman slammed by Utah County deputy speaks out - KUTV
Utah County Planning Commission approved an ordinance permitting data centers in Mining and Grazing and Industrial zones with development standards.
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Utah Data Center Protest Sees Woman Body Slammed, Arrested - Newsweek
Utah County Planning Commission approved an ordinance permitting data centers in Mining and Grazing and Industrial zones; residents opposed the measure due to water and electricity concerns.
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Police Violently Restrain Three People During Utah Data Center Protest - Democracy Now!
Utah County Planning Commission approved an ordinance allowing new data center construction in mining, grazing and industrial zones; residents protested and three people were arrested during the meeting.
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US considering 35 data center related developments on public land, land records say
The US Bureau of Land Management is considering 35 data center applications on western public lands, including 17 for campuses and 13 for supporting AI infrastructure, according to a Center for Western Priorities tracker.
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‘Never have I been met with such excessive force,’ says woman arrested while protesting data centers in Utah County
The Utah County Planning Commission approved an ordinance regulating data centers in unincorporated parts of the county, sparking protests and the arrest of an activist.
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Virginia’s 9th District candidates discuss stance on data centers and fraud - WSET
U.S. congressional candidates in Virginia's 9th District stated opposing positions on data center development, with the Republican incumbent backing strategic growth and the Democratic challenger calling for a temporary national moratorium.
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Residents Rally for Data Center Moratorium in Roanoke Valley
Residents across the Roanoke Valley held a March for a Moratorium rally on October 22, 2026, calling for a pause on data center development. The rally was one of several statewide events organized by CCAN Action Fund, The Virginia Sierra Club, Tikkun Olam, ARTivisim, and Appalachian Voices.
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Amazon explains shift in position on future data center developments in Northern Va.
One day after withdrawing its proposal for four data centers on a George Washington University campus site in Ashburn, Amazon outlined its commitment to community engagement in Northern Virginia. The company noted over 20 years of operations and more than 190 billion dollars in Virginia investments.
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Suffolk bans data centers, but it won't last forever
Suffolk, Virginia City Council unanimously adopted a temporary prohibition on data centers and data center development, with planning staff tasked to develop new regulations and engage with residents about impacts on communities.
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Suffolk approves temporary data center ban - WHRO
Suffolk City Council unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on data center projects, defining data centers and giving the city time to develop regulations before allowing projects to proceed.
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Consultant: Western Virginia is on the data center map. Landowners should set the terms. - Cardinal News
A consultant advises western Virginia communities to set data center terms before developers arrive, including requiring grid infrastructure investment, training programs, and water and noise limits.
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In Virginia, rescue dogs stop using walking trails as data center work rattles shelter
Construction at a neighboring data center operated by Oppidan has caused rescue dogs at Hanover Humane Society in Virginia to avoid their usual walking trails due to noise and vibrations.
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Suffolk City Council approves temporary moratorium on data centers - WTKR
Suffolk, Virginia City Council voted 8-0 to adopt a temporary moratorium on data centers, halting all applications pending further development review.
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Data center developers to host Nov. forum in Southwest Virginia - Virginia Business
Oasis Digital Properties is planning a data center campus with three or four buildings on 234 acres in Russell County, Virginia, a former coal mine site, with a public forum planned for November 18, 2026.
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Hundreds rally in Grandin Village demanding statewide data center moratorium - WFIR News
More than 200 Roanoke Valley residents rallied Wednesday demanding Virginia impose an immediate statewide freeze on data center approvals as Google explores facilities in Roanoke and Botetourt counties.
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Virginia Is for Lovers … of Data Centers? - The Good Men Project
Educational article with data on data center impacts cites figures for water use, heat, noise, size, cost, employment and voter opposition to Virginia's tax exemption for data centers.
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Franklin County leaders answered questions about the impacts of data center development - WSET
Franklin County Virginia leaders held a two hour public meeting on October 22 about data center impacts, addressing water, energy and nondisclosure agreements, though the Project Flash proposal did not move forward.
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Franklin County holds informational panel on data center development - WSLS
Franklin County held a public work session with panels on data center development to inform officials and residents about economic development, utility, water and local government issues.
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Local organization thrilled with council's decision to deny proposal for Rapids data center - wjfw.com
Wisconsin Rapids Common Council voted unanimously to deny PNK Group's data center proposal at the former Rapids mill site and entered a one year moratorium on data center development.
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Crowley, Tiffany spar over taxes, data centers and abortion in only debate of governor’s race
Wisconsin gubernatorial candidates Crowley and Tiffany debated data center development, agreeing broadly on restrictions but disagreeing over tax incentives and local control.
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Is a Data Center Coming to Berkeley Springs? - Morgan County USA
Berkeley Springs town council passed a resolution to spend up to $200,000 on a 147 acre parcel with a water source, part of a $1.2 million purchase with Morgan County and West Virginia funding amid questions about a possible data center.
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West Virginia agriculture commissioner warns data centers could threaten valuable farmland - West Virginia Explorer
West Virginia agriculture commissioner warns that data center expansion in Mason County and associated transmission lines could permanently reduce farmland available for food production.
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West Virginia agriculture commissioner urges data centers to avoid farmland - WV News
West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt urged data center developers to prioritize less productive farmland, warning that industrial development and transmission lines could threaten the state's agricultural resources.
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Inside Yellowstone National Park’s historic gift from data center developers - Montana Free Press
Tallgrass, a Blackstone subsidiary partnered with Google, donated 105 million dollars to Yellowstone National Park to fund research, conservation, and visitor education, prompting debate about corporate philanthropy and data center environmental impacts.
