Data Centers: Daily Notes | July 23, 2026

Texas

Bipartisan support for regulating data center development is growing as Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and State Rep. James Talarico separately called for stronger oversight of the industry's impacts on water resources, electricity demand, and the state's power grid.

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Texas’ Sid Miller, James Talarico back data center regulations as Texans issue

As communities across Central Texas continue debating the growth and impact of data centers, two Texas politicians from opposite parties are calling for regulat

KEYEJahmal Kennedy

Miller argued that Texas lacks adequate oversight, particularly in unincorporated areas where counties have limited authority to regulate developments, and said lawmakers should consider a moratorium or special legislative session to address water use, power consumption, and infrastructure planning. Talarico proposed establishing minimum federal standards for new data center projects aimed at protecting the electric grid, reducing utility costs, safeguarding the environment, and supporting Texas jobs, while expressing willingness to work across party lines. Their remarks align with recommendations from the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which urged state leaders to ensure new large-load developments preserve grid reliability and affordability while supporting responsible economic growth. The issue is expected to remain a key topic during next year's legislative session as state leaders consider additional data center regulations.

Hanford, CA

The Kings Fairgrounds is evaluating a proposal from Global Stack to build an edge computing system on the property, with CEO Dena Rizzardo emphasizing the project is not a traditional hyperscale commercial data center.

The proposal, also being weighed by the Tulare County Fairgrounds, would install a network of edge computing systems Global Stack says would bolster California's emergency communications and resilience infrastructure, supporting first responders when traditional systems are compromised. Rizzardo said the fairgrounds have a fiduciary duty to evaluate opportunities that support long-term financial sustainability, and the project would generate undisclosed year-round revenue funded entirely through private investment at no cost to taxpayers, while creating local union construction jobs.

More than 30 people spoke at the July 20 Kings County Fair board meeting, raising concerns about the project's transparency, potential noise pollution and effects on local utility bills.

Henderson, Nevada

Henderson City Council took no action Tuesday on a proposed 180-day data center moratorium after roughly two hours of discussion, opting instead to rely on individually negotiated development agreements while the city considers broader code changes.

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Mayor Michelle Romero said no data center applications are currently before the city, but any future proposal would need to demonstrate how it addresses heat, noise, water use, power demand and distance from residential areas before a city committee reviews whether that criteria has been met.

Attorney Kristopher Milicevic said Henderson's existing codes predate many modern data center concerns, and development agreements let the city negotiate tailored requirements, such as noise reduction, water limits or developer-funded electrical substations, on a project-by-project basis. Romero said negotiating such an agreement typically takes six to 12 months, faster only if a developer arrives with required studies already completed.

Stokes County, North Carolina

Stokes County commissioners voted against a proposed data center moratorium at a standing-room-only meeting last week, rejecting the planning board's recommendation despite a public comment period where numerous residents spoke against allowing the industry into the county.

ELS Project Delta

Engineered Land Solutions

One commissioner said the board wasn't in any hurry to act, so a moratorium wasn't necessary. The board also reviewed proposed zoning amendments meant to tighten restrictions on future projects, including data centers, though staff and the county attorney cautioned that outright banning data centers could carry legal risk; one section of the proposed changes, addressing a shortened review timeline, was held back from consideration. Days after the vote, Engineered Land Solutions CEO Drew Nations announced he had refiled a rezoning application for a proposed data center in Walnut Cove, known as Project Delta.

Nations said the project could generate an estimated $40 million in annual tax revenue, funds he said could raise teacher pay, renovate schools and add emergency vehicles while cutting property taxes, alongside hundreds of jobs. He said the refiled application addresses resident concerns including noise limits, generator placement, cooling systems, water infrastructure, floodplain restrictions, lighting, height limits and buffer areas.

McCormick County, South Carolina

McCormick County Council Chairman Bernie Hamby announced that county staff are drafting a proposed temporary moratorium on data centers, following public concerns raised at a recent council meeting.

Hamby said he instructed the county administrator to write the moratorium, which will then go to the McCormick County Planning Commission for review before reaching a County Council agenda, likely at the next regular meeting scheduled for Aug. 18. He said any moratorium would need to move through a full public process before final action. Hamby noted that under current zoning, data centers are already permitted in the county's Service/Industrial district with no county-specific standards in place, which is why staff had earlier drafted a baseline ordinance intended to be strengthened through Planning Commission review and three council readings.

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Columbus, Ohio

Columbus officials are weighing new regulations for data centers after residents and environmental advocates urged City Council to adopt stronger safeguards, including a moratorium or outright ban on new facilities.

Data center opponents say Columbus proposal is a start, but falls short

Residents are urging a Columbus council to strengthen proposed data center regulations, with some calling for a moratorium or outright ban.

The Columbus Dispatch, The Columbus Dispatch

During a July 22 hearing, community members called for measures such as renewable energy requirements, restrictions in environmentally sensitive areas, bans on non-disclosure agreements, limits on tax incentives, and stronger enforcement mechanisms. Councilmember Christopher Wyche's draft proposals would require water conservation plans, decommissioning plans and developer-funded sewer infrastructure upgrades for facilities within Columbus and projects outside the city that rely on Columbus water. He indicated the legislation will be revised following additional public feedback before future hearings, while the Data Center Coalition said it plans to continue working with city leaders on the proposals.

Johnson County, Iowa

Johnson County officials are advancing a proposed data center ordinance that would impose some of Eastern Iowa's strictest regulations on future developments, despite having no active projects under consideration.

The draft ordinance would require developers to evaluate water use, operate only within designated areas of unincorporated Johnson County and use closed-loop cooling systems, while also addressing grid reliability and energy efficiency. County leaders said the goal is to discourage hyperscale data center development through strong regulatory standards rather than an outright ban, which they believe may not be legally defensible. Officials also indicated they are coordinating with nearby municipalities to avoid developers circumventing county regulations, while residents urged the county to carefully evaluate environmental and community impacts before allowing future projects.

Mercer County, Kentucky

Mercer County's Planning and Zoning Board is holding a public hearing on a proposed data center ordinance as debate continues over a hyperscale facility proposed near Burgin.

‘How do they sleep at night’: Burgin residents speak ahead of Thursday’s data center meeting

The Mercer County Planning and Zoning Board will hold a public hearing Thursday on a proposed data center ordinance, another hearing on the project after county leaders previously considered similar rules.

WKYTJackson Plank

Residents opposed to the project argue developers are pursuing the site because Burgin lacks its own planning and zoning process, allowing the proposal to advance outside the county's existing regulatory framework. Ahead of the hearing, community members raised concerns about potential noise, lighting, air emissions and the project's proximity to homes, while also criticizing what they described as a lack of transparency and meaningful public engagement. The ordinance hearing comes as county officials continue evaluating regulations for future data center development while Burgin separately works to establish its own land use rules.

Emporia, Kansas

The Emporia City Commission approved three ordinances establishing a digital infrastructure district and related zoning protections for potential data center development following a contentious public meeting that drew more than 30 speakers.

Residents voiced sharply divided opinions, with opponents raising concerns about environmental impacts, water use and pollution, while supporters cited potential economic development opportunities for the city. Commissioners emphasized that the ordinances establish the regulatory framework for future projects rather than approve a specific data center proposal, noting any developer would still need to advance a project. The commission also declined to act on a citizen petition seeking to prohibit data centers within the city, meaning the measure could advance to the November general election if commissioners do not approve it within the required timeframe.

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