Pennsylvania

A bipartisan bill cleared committee in the State House on Wednesday that would let Pennsylvania communities enact a 180-day pause on considering data center applications while they adopt, amend, or repeal their zoning.

State law requires communities to zone for all legal uses, including data centers, so municipalities cannot ban the developments outright. They can only decide where projects go and under what conditions. The pause would give local governments time to draft land-use ordinances built for the sector, and let them sidestep the slow municipal curative amendment process that developers often block by filing first.

Rep. Paul Friel (D-Chester), who sponsored the bill, said it gives officials the time needed to research and pass comprehensive ordinances. A recent Emerson College poll found 42% of Pennsylvanians would not support a data center in or near their community.

Escambia County, Florida

County Attorney Alison Rogers told commissioners she will recommend a ban on data centers during the public forum at the June 17 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

On Youtube: MyEscambia's Public Forum and BCC Regular Meeting - June 17, 2026

Dozens of residents packed the chambers and spoke for more than an hour against data centers. The crowd erupted in applause when Rogers said, "What I'm going to recommend is a ban on data centers." The concern stems from rumors that economic development leaders were in active negotiations with a company exploring a data center in northern Escambia County.

FloridaWest CEO Chris Platé repeated that he is not in active negotiations. He said FloridaWest signed a non-disclosure agreement with a defense company exploring a smaller facility, but that company has not been in contact in months and no deal is being discussed. Commissioners said they did not support data centers and agreed to add the issue to that evening's agenda.

Clark County, Nevada

Clark County commissioners approved zoning and development items Wednesday for a Switch data center in the southwest valley after commenters urged the county to slow data center growth.

Switch described the LAS 19 facility as a roughly 56,000-square-foot building, less than half the square footage previously approved for the site. Steven Roberts, Switch's vice president of construction development, said it would use a closed-loop cooling system that does not consume water daily beyond restrooms and kitchenettes. Commissioner Michael Naft said the application scored 6.5 out of 7 on the county's sustainability point system and would be supported by 100% renewable sources.

Representatives of the Sierra Club and environmental justice advocates criticized the project as part of rapid, AI-driven expansion that could strain Nevada's grid and affordability. Several urged the commission to follow the Enterprise Town Advisory Board's recommendation to deny the design review. Commissioners approved the items with landscaping waivers withdrawn and a condition that Switch contribute to a Warm Springs Road sidewalk safety barrier.

Coweta County, Georgia

The Coweta County Board of Commissioners approved a 180-day data center moratorium at its Tuesday night meeting to review the county's data center ordinance.

The moratorium halts acceptance of applications for permits, land use amendments, rezoning, conditional use, and variances, along with all related public hearings. It is set to expire Dec. 23 or whenever the board adopts an ordinance amendment. The county's five proposed data centers have vested rights under state law because they were submitted under the current ordinance, so they are exempt.

Luther, Oklahoma

Luther's town council passed a moratorium on a proposed data center through Dec. 31, 2026 after a crowd forced leaders to move the meeting outdoors and block off Main Street.

A meeting a week earlier had been postponed because the small town hall could not fit everyone. That session ran more than four hours, with each speaker limited to two minutes, and former lawyer Ron Durbin threatened officials with a citizen's arrest over the Open Meeting Act. Wednesday's meeting covered a rezoning request, a specific use permit, an infrastructure agreement, and the moratorium.

Tucson, Arizona

Tucson's Planning Commission held a follow-up public hearing on June 17 on proposed regulations for large-scale data centers, continuing work that began with direction from Mayor and Council in August 2025.

The proposed rules aim to set clear boundaries and require public review for any large-scale data center proposed in the city. The commission held an initial hearing on June 3, where twelve community members spoke, then asked Planning and Development Services staff to review the comments, conduct more research, and return for further discussion.

That follow-up was scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Mayor and Council Chambers, with residents able to participate in person or online. The updated code proposal is posted on the Planning Commission webpage.

Franklin Park, Pennsylvania

Franklin Park Borough Council adopted an ordinance Wednesday establishing a data center overlay district in the borough's zoning map, even though no application is currently pending.

The legislation sets detailed guidelines for prospective developers covering dimensional standards, landscape buffers, noise and vibration, water and sewer, power supply, emergency management, aesthetics, and decommissioning. Borough Manager Zachary Filous noted that because data centers run 24 hours and rely on large-scale backup generators, the rules let the borough regulate sound and vibration for nearby residents. The ordinance will be reviewed at the county level as part of enactment.

Pine Island, Minnesota

The Pine Island City Council adopted a new public comment policy Tuesday following a contentious meeting over a proposed data center linked to Google, and Mayor David Friese abruptly resigned this week.

The new rules limit public input to 20 minutes total and list "no name-calling" among the decorum standards, prompted by a tense April meeting that led to a council recess. Friese's resignation letter, submitted Monday, cited growing demands at his job. Council member Vernon Pahl will temporarily fill the role until a new mayor is appointed.

A legal battle over the project continues. The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy sued the city and developer, arguing the environmental review is inadequate, and a judge granted its request to temporarily halt construction. The next hearing, a scheduling conference, is set for Thursday.

Pinellas Park, Florida

American Tower filed a permit to build a data center in Pinellas Park at 10700 76th Court North, less than a quarter-mile from the nearest home.

The Boston-based developer's proposal requires tearing down an empty building on the half-acre site and would add an eight-foot security fence and four large generator pads. Pinellas Park officials will treat the facility as a conditional use, requiring formal review and public approval. Local zoning laws do not explicitly define data centers, so the project faces scrutiny over noise, water capacity, and infrastructure. No date has been set for the first public hearing, and the City Council will ultimately vote on the permit.

Lufkin, Texas

Lufkin residents packed a town hall Tuesday night over the proposed Amp Z AI data center planned for the old paper mill property on State Highway 103 in east Lufkin.

Angelina County Judge Keith Wright confirmed the project is in the planning phase with no deal finalized. The biggest concern of the night was East Texas water. Environmental policy specialist Kris Hill said Amp Z is looking to expand to a 1.1 gigawatt facility by 2028, which would take 15 to 30 million gallons of water a day in direct use. Hill said developers will face hurdles including Clean Air Act requirements, a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit, and Army Corps of Engineers oversight.

Not every voice was opposed. Former Lufkin ISD Superintendent Roy Knight said the data center could bring economic benefits to local schools. Wright said at least two public hearings must happen before any tax abatement deal is finalized, and urged residents to call their state lawmakers.

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