DENVER, Colorado

Denver Announces Moratorium on New Data Centers

Mayor Mike Johnston today joined members of City Council in announcing it intends to file a moratorium on new data centers in Denver.

City and County of Denver

Denver City Council advanced a yearlong moratorium on new data center construction as Denver Water calls for a 20% reduction in water use during Stage 1 drought conditions. The legislation would halt all new data center projects beginning May 21. Data centers currently have no specific permitting requirements in Denver, and city officials want time to develop regulations addressing community safety and equity.

A special working group of community members, industry stakeholders, utility companies, and city departments would explore impacts and make recommendations. Only one facility, the CoreSite DE3, is currently permitted and under construction. The moratorium could be extended beyond a year. First reading before full City Council is expected April 20, with a second reading and public hearing likely May 18.

MASON COUNTY, Kentucky

Mobile home park residents have been given three months to vacate as a Fortune 500 company prepares to build a data center on the land. Residents received a letter from their landlord stating the property was being purchased for the project. Each resident is being offered $20,000 to relocate.

Finding a new home will be difficult: a Mason County ordinance restricts mobile homes to rural residential or agricultural zoned areas. The company's identity has not been revealed, and the county is still reviewing the plans.

PHILLIPSBURG, New Jersey

Phillipsburg's Land Use Board voted March 26 to support an ordinance that would prohibit data centers in all zoning districts, finding it consistent with the town's master plan. The proposal, Ordinance 2026-08, was unanimously approved on first reading by the Town Council on February 24.

The ordinance cites data showing large-scale data centers can consume 3 to 5 million gallons of water per day and require up to 300 megawatts of electricity. Statewide energy costs have risen more than 20% over the past year. A public hearing and final vote are scheduled for April 14.

SAND SPRINGS, Oklahoma

Sand Springs City Manager Mike Carter says the city is in a holding pattern on "Project Spring" while litigation filed by opponents works through the courts. Carter expressed optimism the data center will proceed, projecting at least $100 million in revenue over 25 years.

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Project Spring

The revenue could eliminate the need for general obligation bonds that would otherwise affect taxpayers. The update comes after Beale Infrastructure recently canceled its competing Project Atlas data center in Coweta.

HANOVER TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania

Hanover Township passed a new ordinance on March 31 to proactively regulate potential data center developments in the community. The ordinance establishes requirements for location, noise, water usage, power demand, and emergency management, prompted by growing interest from major tech companies.

The most likely site is Starpointe Industrial Park, purchased in 2024 by developers Andy Miller and Alex Paris, who project millions in property tax revenue and new jobs. The township solicitor noted the rules can be updated as projects evolve.

MONTEREY PARK, California

City of Monterey Park to Hold Special Public Hearing on Data Center Prohibition • Monterey Park, CA

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Monterey Park will hold a special council meeting April 20 to consider a proposed data center ban. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall and is open to the public, with standard procedures for public hearings and comment.

The proposed ordinance is separate from an upcoming June 2 public ballot measure. City officials are encouraging residents to attend and review related documents on the city's website.

Data Center Information | Monterey Park, CA - Official Website

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MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania

Montgomery Township voted to declare a portion of its zoning ordinance invalid for lacking any provisions governing data centers. Township Manager Carolyn McCreary cited legal concerns that the current code could be considered exclusionary under Pennsylvania law for failing to account for a legitimate land use.

The March 23 resolution triggered the curative amendment process under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, giving the township up to 180 days to adopt new zoning language covering data center locations, setbacks, building size, noise, and infrastructure. During the amendment process, the township is shielded from developer challenges seeking to exploit the gap.

JENKINS TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania

A township consultant revealed a draft ordinance limiting data centers to one industrial zone at a public hearing Monday night. The proposed Data Center Overlay District covers 550 acres in the Industrial 2 district at CenterPoint, where the Mericle organization has built more than 20 warehouses. Township officials said no applications have been submitted and Mericle was not involved in drafting the ordinance.

The planning commission recommended 1,000-foot setbacks from existing property lines and strict water and power restrictions. Several dozen residents attended the hearing, with most seeking assurance that data centers would be confined to the industrial park. No action was taken, but the township is now protected by the state's pending ordinance statute.

MASSILLON, Ohio

Massillon City Council hired outside attorney Terry Seeberger to develop data center zoning recommendations for the city.

Council passed legislation weeks ago to bring on Seeberger, though separate appropriations legislation may still be needed. Ohio is home to 101 data centers with roughly 80 more planned, according to a University of Virginia study.

Sedgwick County, Kansas

Sedgwick County is hosting a town hall Tuesday evening to discuss potential data center projects and regulations. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the county extension office near 21st and Ridge Road. The county commission recently extended its moratorium on all data center applications until June 11, citing the need for more time to research best practices. The current zoning code has no formal rules for data centers.

🌡️ Industry Pulse

Data Centers Creating "Heat Islands," Warming Surrounding Areas by Up to 16°F

New research from the University of Cambridge found that data centers are warming the land around them by an average of 3.6°F after operations begin, with extreme cases reaching 16.4°F. The study analyzed temperature data from remote sensors over the past 20 years and mapped it against the locations of more than 6,000 hyperscale data centers located outside dense urban areas.

The temperature increases were consistent across the globe, appearing in Mexico's Bajio region, Spain's Aragon province, and elsewhere. The effects extended up to 6.2 miles from facilities, impacting more than 340 million people. Lead author Andrea Marinoni called for more discussion about reducing AI's environmental footprint, while other researchers cautioned the reported effects "seem very high" and that emissions from power generation remain the more pressing concern.

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