Data Centers: Daily Notes | October 21, 2026

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources agreed to conduct a statewide strategic analysis of AI data centers’ environmental impacts, settling a Sierra Club lawsuit over permits issued for the Vantage data center campus in Port Washington.

The Sierra Club sued in July, challenging the DNR’s decision to permit the Vantage project without preparing a full environmental impact statement. The analysis will examine data centers’ effects on water use, greenhouse gas emissions, wildlife, and energy use, and must be finalized by January 2028. Under the settlement, Vantage will cover the full cost of the study, while the DNR keeps sole control over how it is developed. The agency must also maintain a public website with notices, documents, and opportunities for public input.

Somerset County, Pennsylvania

Somerset County commissioners unanimously approved a data center ordinance Tuesday night at the Bakersville Fire Hall, following a public hearing where residents raised concerns over water, noise, and potential health impacts.

Somerset County commissioners unanimously approve new data center ordinance

Somerset County commissioners unanimously approved a proposed data center ordinance Tuesday night at the Bakersville Fire Hall, following a public hearing where

WJACBaylee Wojcik

The ordinance sets a 1,000-foot setback from existing homes outside a project property, along with noise limits and restrictions on outdoor lighting. Commissioner Brian Fochtman said feedback from a September hearing shaped the revised ordinance, and County Solicitor Ben Carroll said new language makes clear that air, water, and noise impacts fall under state and federal law, as does waste disposal.

Broward County, Florida

The Broward County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to begin drafting a one-year moratorium on large-scale data centers in unincorporated areas, citing concerns over residential communities, water supplies, and electricity costs.

Broward County moves toward one-year moratorium on large-scale data centers

The Broward County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to begin the process of imposing a one-year moratorium on large-scale data centers in unincorporated areas of the county, citing concerns about the facilities’ potential impact on residential communities, water supplies and electricity costs.

WPLG Local 10Byron Tollefson

Commissioners directed the county attorney’s office to write an ordinance that would give officials a year to study the facilities’ impacts and develop regulations for future projects. The moratorium is not yet in effect and still needs final approval from the commission. Commissioner Lamar Fisher, who proposed the measure, expects it to return for a vote next month, though it could slip to December.

Wheeling, West Virginia

Wheeling is drafting a data center ordinance that would update city code with new standards and review processes for the facilities, Mayor Denny Magruder said.

Council has already reviewed a 15-page resolution tied to data center development in the area. Magruder pushed back on residents who have come to meetings upset that the city hasn’t acted, saying the work has been underway for about three months. The ordinance is still being developed.

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Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Rapids Common Council voted 7-0 Tuesday night to reject a conditional use permit for a hyperscale data center proposed by the PNK Group at the city’s old paper mill site.

The decision caps months of opposition led by South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development, a group formed in April specifically to fight the project. Residents had turned out for protests and informational meetings, raising concerns about noise and potential impacts on energy costs, while the PNK Group hosted its own meetings to promote the project’s benefits. The city also entered a one-year data center moratorium on Oct. 9, with an option to extend it to 18 months, and will use that time to rework its ordinance before considering any future applications.

Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock’s second try at a data center moratorium failed on a 4-4 vote, with directors splitting exactly as they did on an 18-month proposal in August.

The measure, sponsored by Director Kathy Webb, would have given the city time to set rules on water, noise, emergency infrastructure, zoning, and monitoring for data centers. It’s the second failed moratorium attempt since August, when an 18-month version died on an identical vote. Director Capi Peck, listed as a co-sponsor, voted against the measure, saying she found it too technical. The push comes as Google plans a $1 billion data center at the Port of Little Rock.

McCormick County, South Carolina

McCormick County Council postponed the third reading of Ordinance 26-06, its proposed data center regulations, after council members introduced a series of amendments Tuesday night.

The proposed changes would allow independent third-party inspections of data centers at the applicant’s expense, limit groundwater wells, and require water to come from public utilities. They would also give the county authority to suspend or revoke permits for repeated violations, add environmental protections, and let the county revisit certain requirements as projects move forward. Because of the amendments, the ordinance is headed back to the Planning Commission, which is expected to take it up next month.

Urbana, Ohio

The Urbana City Council chose to keep fighting a lawsuit from Thor Equities rather than accept a settlement that would have allowed a data center directly across the street from the city’s middle and high school.

Residents packed the meeting holding “No Deal” signs, though some questioned what the financial fallout could be if the city loses. Many also said they still want answers about how Urbana ended up in this position. The council’s next meeting is Nov. 3, the same day Champaign County voters decide whether to ban data centers.

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Episode Title: The “Moderate” Think Tank Backed By AI Money-4877214-2026-10-20 20:12:25-eb8fed0d-bb191880858b18c8

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