Data Centers: Daily Notes | October 28, 2026

DeSoto County, Florida

The DeSoto County Commission deadlocked 2-2 on Oct. 27 on DCIP Group’s application to rezone roughly 238 acres for a hyperscale data center, causing the request to fail after a six-hour meeting.

Commissioner Steve Hickox recused himself over a potential conflict of interest, though he still voiced opposition to the project. The vote isn’t the end of the road, as commissioners were scheduled to take up a second DCIP Group rezoning application the following day. The company has sought about 826 acres in total for a complex of natural gas-powered data centers near Arcadia, after the county approved rezoning an initial 34 acres on the site of a decommissioned power plant in March. The planning commission had recommended denial of the second application 4-1 earlier this month.

Oro Valley, Arizona

Oro Valley is moving to ban large-scale data centers using 20 megawatts or more, with the Town Council holding a special meeting and public hearing on the zoning code amendments Oct. 28.

The proposal went to the Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 27. Under current code, data centers count as a “technical services” use and could be built in the town’s Commercial and Technical Park zones. The amendments would allow only ancillary data centers, such as server rooms housed inside existing buildings used by major employers, and would require a council-approved conditional use permit for any data center. A staff report from Town Planner Bayer Vella said Oro Valley would be the only jurisdiction among 13 researched in Arizona to prohibit large-scale data centers.

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hutchinson is drafting data center regulations ahead of any proposal, with the Planning Commission set to hold a public hearing on the rules Nov. 10.

Planning for Data Centers and Battery Energy Storage Systems

City of Hutchinson Kansas HomepageGovernment Websites by CivicPlus®

The draft would limit where data centers can be built, require water-efficient cooling as the primary method of removing heat, and cap noise at 60 decibels during the day and 50 decibels at night, measured at the facility’s property line. It also separates smaller, standalone data centers from accessory server rooms that support another business. Planning Commission Chair Elaine Carter said the goal is to protect residents, especially those most vulnerable to utility cost increases, without stifling local growth. The City Council is expected to take up the rules Dec. 1.

Salem Township, Pennsylvania

The Salem Township Board of Supervisors approved expanding its data center overlay district by more than 3,000 acres at a special meeting Tuesday, clearing the way for two proposed data center projects.

Salem Township approves expansion of data center district by more than 3,000 acres

The Salem Township Board of Supervisors approved expanding its data center overlay district by more than 3,000 acres during a special meeting Tuesday, clearing

WOLFFOX56 NEWSROOM/TIMES LEADER

One expansion was requested by 4-3 Glennbrook Group for Salem 3, a proposed $1.4 billion project, and co-founder Jack Sordoni said the company has agreements with nearly 200 landowners to buy about 4,466 acres. The board also approved adding about 185 acres, previously zoned A1 and C1, for Moores 109 LLC’s Salem 4 project, with Vice Chairman Steven Fraind abstaining because a property he owns may be involved. The township planning commission had recommended both ordinances Sept. 24, after residents sued the township alleging Sunshine Act violations when attendees were turned away and doors were locked at a July 23 planning commission meeting.

Strisker Document Analysis

Finding the right compliance documents shouldn’t feel like searching for a needle in a haystack - Strisker’s Documents Analysis is built to simplify your life, offering instant access to hundreds of thousands of documents from thousands of cities across the world.

Create Your Watchlist - 14 Day Free Trial

Fayetteville, North Carolina

The Fayetteville City Council voted 6-4 on Oct. 26 to approve revised data center regulations, though the rules won’t take effect until after a public hearing on a proposed data center moratorium.

Mayor Mitch Colvin, Mayor Pro Tem Derrick Thompson, and Council members D.J. Haire, Deno Hondros, Brenda McNair and Malik Davis voted in favor, while Lynne Greene, Antonio Jones, Stephon Ferguson and Shaun McMillan voted against. The amendments add a data center definition, standards for noise, utilities, lighting, air quality compliance, and a 24-hour contact person, and introduce conditional rezoning so the city can review each proposal case by case. The council had voted 6-4 on Oct. 19 to schedule the moratorium hearing, but no date has been set. City Attorney Lachelle Pulliam said she would follow up on the process and timeline.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The Oklahoma City Council voted 6-3 on Oct. 27 to approve zoning for Beltline Energy’s data center in far west Oklahoma City, the city’s first mega-data center, under what the company’s attorney called the most restrictive zoning for such a project in city history.

Beltline was one of two companies allowed to seek zoning during the city’s yearlong moratorium because it applied before the freeze. Conditions include a 75,000-gallon daily water cap with no treated water for cooling, independent noise studies to keep sound at or below 55 decibels, weekday-only generator testing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a decommissioning plan for each building. Beltline will also help pay for a new OG&E substation, with electric costs kept off residential customers, and will make payments in lieu of sales tax and franchise fees even if the state passes an exemption.

Chatham County, North Carolina

Chatham County residents and the Haw River Assembly are calling for a two-year statewide moratorium on data centers, holding a press conference in Pittsboro over concerns about water use and potential river contamination.

The push comes as Chatham’s own data center moratorium, adopted Feb. 11, 2026, has failed to stop a 750-megawatt data center planned by Eco TIP West at the Triangle Innovation Point West business park near Moncure. The developer sued the county in April, arguing its project was already underway before the moratorium and should have been exempt, and Superior Court Judge John Morris ruled in its favor in September. County Manager Bryan Thompson said Chatham is continuing to develop regulations despite the lawsuit and supports statewide efforts to set clear standards for the facilities.

Chesterfield County, Virginia

Chesterfield County hosted a community forum on data centers Oct. 27 after the Board of Supervisors and county staff received hundreds of questions and comments about data center development.

Chesterfield County launches data center webpage

Chesterfield County has launched a new website, giving residents, businesses and others a centralized place for information about latest center developments throughout the county.

WWBT12 On Your Side Digital Team

Officials said the volume of input made a forum the best way to address residents’ questions directly. Dean Lynch, executive director of the Virginia Association of Counties, was among the moderators, and representatives from Google, Chirisa, and Dominion Energy were set to take part. The county launched a data center webpage in July to keep residents updated on the latest developments.

In case you missed it:

Data Center Legislation: Importance and Categories

An overview of data center legislation, its importance, the categories being addressed, and the individuals responsible for monitoring these new laws.

Strisker - Short-Term Rental and Data Center regulationsEm Dela Cruz

📱 Social Buzz

Episode Title: Inside Olympia – Washington State's Energy Future

Episode: Inside Olympia

Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/inside-olympia-washington-state-s-energy-future--76030199

Strisker Government Officials Dashboard

Trying to keep up with the main players in the STR and Data Center game? Know your council members, commissioners, committee chairs, and key staff that are part of the process.

Create Your Watchlist - 14 Day Free Trial

👍 We’d love your feedback.
Which stories hit? Which ones missed?

We're exploring a new branch of topics centered around Data Centers and want to make it even more useful for you.

✉️ Just reply directly to this email. We read and respond to every message!

-Will McClure
🙋 P.S.
Know someone else who should be reading Daily Notes? Feel free to forward this along. We’re opening a few more spots.