Data Centers: Daily Notes | July 27, 2026

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania lawmakers approved only one data center-related measure as part of the state's $50.8 billion budget, requiring facilities using more than 10 MW of electricity annually to disclose their energy and water consumption, while leaving broader regulatory proposals unresolved.

The new law requires data centers using more than 10 MW of electricity annually to disclose their energy and water use, covering most planned facilities in the state. Lawmakers did not advance broader proposals that would have expanded local authority over data center development or imposed additional utility and environmental requirements. Environmental groups are expected to continue pushing for more comprehensive regulations when the legislature returns in September.

Lovejoy, Georgia

Lovejoy is reviewing plans for the proposed Stillwater Technology Park, a data center campus that could deliver up to 1.25GW of capacity across a 400 acre site. Stillwater Development has filed a development of regional impact application for a project that could include up to 15 data center buildings totaling 3.465 million square feet, along with two on site substations.

The campus could represent up to a $13 billion investment, with the first phase targeted for completion by 2031. The developer previously sought to rezone the property in late 2025. While Clayton County has a moratorium on data center applications in unincorporated areas, the restriction does not apply within the city of Lovejoy.

Menomonie, Wisconsin

Menomonie will release draft zoning standards for a proposed 320 acre data center after months of public criticism over the project's secrecy and the city's use of nondisclosure agreements.

The proposed I-4 ordinance would establish development standards covering building height, setbacks, light and noise pollution, water use, landscaping, and site reclamation. The City Council is scheduled to review the draft on Aug. 3, although no vote is planned at that meeting. Officials say the ordinance is intended to address community concerns while providing guidance for future development, but opponents remain skeptical that the requirements will meaningfully limit the project.

Vineland, New Jersey

Vineland's Planning Board is set to decide on Aug. 5 whether the partially constructed DataOne data center can move forward, as residents organize opposition ahead of the hearing.

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Community members are raising concerns about the project's noise, water use, electricity demand, and proximity to nearby neighborhoods, while supporters are expected to emphasize potential economic benefits. Organizers are encouraging residents to prepare for the formal planning board process, where testimony is given under oath and technical land use and environmental issues carry greater weight than general objections. The hearing is expected to test whether growing public opposition can influence a project that has already begun construction.

Ransom Township, Pennsylvania

Ransom Township could see a new 750 MW data center campus after Mudiita Infra announced plans for a 930 acre development in Lackawanna County. The company's affiliate recently acquired 530 acres for $2.4 million, with the remaining development planned in phases and supported by battery energy storage and solar power rather than natural gas generation.

The proposal comes months after township officials rejected a zoning overlay request for a separate data center project because of incomplete information. That earlier decision suggests local zoning approvals could play a key role as the project advances.

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Emporia Township, Kansas

Emporia residents have begun circulating petitions to overhaul the city's form of government after the City Commission approved a series of measures that could facilitate future data center development.

The petitions would replace the current City Commission with a ward based City Council and require members of city boards to be elected rather than appointed. The campaign builds on earlier petitions seeking to prohibit high impact data centers and battery energy storage systems, with one already validated by the Lyon County Clerk and another under review. The latest effort follows the commission's approval of new water and wastewater policies, a digital infrastructure zoning policy, the rezoning of 11 properties, and the application of a Digital Infrastructure Overlay for a potential data center.

Box Elder, Utah

Opposition to the proposed Stratos data center in Box Elder County continues to grow as residents and advocacy groups call for greater transparency about the project's environmental impacts, water use, and future tenant.

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The project remains paused while a referendum effort and a separate lawsuit move forward, despite receiving initial approval from Utah's Military Installation Development Authority earlier this year. State lawmakers are studying the effects of data center development on water, wildlife, and air quality ahead of the 2027 legislative session, while a new law now requires large data centers to report water use in aggregate. MIDA has pledged a more transparent review process, including a local development review committee, but critics say key project details remain unavailable as the proposal advances.

La Grange, Georgia

LaGrange could see another major expansion of Google's data center campus after a development of regional impact application was filed with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for a new facility.

The proposal includes a 470,000 square foot data center building valued at approximately $1 billion that would be constructed alongside an existing building at the Pegasus Parkway site, with work expected to continue through 2029. The filing also references the possibility of additional future phases, although those plans remain preliminary. The expansion builds on Google's ongoing investment in the campus, where construction is already underway on the first data center building.

Richland Parish, Louisiana

Meta is expanding its Hyperion data center in Richland Parish to 5 GW of compute capacity, more than doubling the project's original scale and increasing its planned investment to more than $50 billion.

Meta expands Louisiana Hyperion data center to 5 gigawatts

The Richland Parish project, originally announced at $10 billion, has grown into one of the largest AI infrastructure investments in the world

QuartzCris Tolomia

The expansion includes more than $1 billion in local infrastructure upgrades for roads, water, and wastewater systems, while Meta said it will continue covering the costs of energy, water, and related infrastructure to avoid shifting expenses to utility customers. The company is also financing new power generation, battery storage, and transmission projects with Entergy Louisiana to support the campus's long term energy needs. Construction has been underway since late 2024, and while the facility remains on track to reach 2 GW by 2030, Meta has not announced a timeline for completing the full 5 GW buildout.

Louodon Townhip, Virginia

Loudoun County is considering a moratorium on new data center applications after the Board of Supervisors voted 6 to 1 to study the legality of a temporary pause and bring the proposal back for consideration on Sept. 15.

Loudoun County considering moratorium on new data center applications, rejects 3.25 million sq ft campus

Trouble in data center paradise

DCDJason Ma

Supporters say the moratorium would give the county time to evaluate the long term impacts of data center growth and develop stronger policies, regulations, and development standards. The move comes as the county's Planning Commission rejected the proposed 3.25 million square foot Spring Valley Technology Park, citing ongoing concerns about continued data center expansion. The project would have included 12 data center buildings, three substations, and utility scale energy storage across roughly 325 acres.

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Episode Title: Dr. Sacoby Wilson: The Hidden Cost of Data Centers
Episode: He’s Not Wrong

Listen:https://hesnotwrong.podbean.com/e/dr-sacoby-wilson-the-hidden-cost-of-data-centers/

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