Data Centers // February 16, 2026

🔖Florida

Hyperscale data center proposals are emerging across Florida, but local governments lack regulations and preparedness to handle the environmental and infrastructure demands these facilities bring, according to Earthjustice senior attorney Christina Reichert.

The state doesn't have an operating hyperscale data center yet, but proposals are under discussion in Polk, Palm Beach, Martin, and Citrus counties. Fort Meade in Polk County is deciding whether to approve a final site plan for a facility covering 1,330 acres that would use over a gigawatt of energy at full capacity. The city approved rezoning and a tax break last year, but residents weren't informed about the project until after the rezoning vote in June.

Reichert warns these facilities create significant environmental concerns beyond traditional data centers, including excessive water use (up to 5 million gallons daily for cooling), noise pollution affecting public health, and reliance on climate-polluting fossil fuels. Palm Beach County postponed a hearing for a 1.8-million-square-foot center until April, while Martin County's Indiantown will likely hold its first hearing in March.

🔖Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa City Council voted unanimously on February 11 to direct the planning office to reevaluate zoning regulations for data centers, potentially upgrading the zoning code from Low-Impact Industrial to Industrial Moderate.

Councilor Laura Bellis, who proposed the review, said many parts of the city currently allow data centers "by right" without additional oversight. Tulsa currently has only one large industrial data center (which is owned by Hewlett-Packard on the far north side near Owasso) but preliminary plans exist for another facility called Project Anthem on the city's far east side near 11th and the Creek Turnpike.

Bellis wants to ensure developers are driven to appropriate locations given the city's limited natural resources. The planning office will conduct the reevaluation, with initial phases expected to take months.

🔖Rice Township, Pennsylvania

Rice Township supervisors will hold a public hearing March 3 at 6:30 p.m. on proposed zoning amendments that would create some of the most comprehensive local data center regulations in the region.

The proposed ordinance limits data centers to conditional uses in the I-1 Industrial District with strict requirements: minimum 50-acre lots, maximum 250,000 square feet in size, 50-foot height limits, and mandatory 1,000-foot buffers from residential districts. Data centers must also be located at least one mile from any other data center on adjoining properties.

Applicants would be required to submit master plans, traffic and environmental impact studies, emergency response plans, and noise and vibration studies. The ordinance also requires certification letters from all utilities (ex., electric, water, sewerage, telecommunications, and broadband) proving they can accommodate the facility while maintaining service levels to existing residents and businesses. Supervisors plan to vote on adoption following the hearing.

🔖El Paso, Texas

El Paso City Council will discuss a comprehensive data center policy framework during their Tuesday meeting, authorizing the city manager to develop guidelines and return within 60 days with a proposal.

The framework includes three major components:

1. infrastructure and utilities assessment working with electric, water, and gas utilities to evaluate capacity and long-term demand;
2. clear zoning and land use rules defining where data centers are appropriate while preserving flexibility for future development;
3. and local economic benefit provisions including a "Hire El Paso First" requirement prioritizing local hiring and partnerships with schools and workforce organizations.

The discussion comes as Meta's announced $1.5 billion artificial intelligence data center project moves forward in northeast El Paso. If approved Tuesday, the city manager would have 60 days to return with findings, stakeholder input, and implementation considerations.

🔖Prince William County, Virginia

Prince William County supervisors collectively raised nearly $300,000 in campaign contributions over the last six months of 2025, with $199,495 coming from data center companies, PACs, and landowners tied to data center projects.

Supervisor Yesli Vega's "YES PAC" received $111,500 from data center interests, including $100,000 from Bill Cooley, a landowner proposing up to five data centers behind Four Seasons retirement community in Dumfries. Supervisor Kenny Boddye received $40,500 from companies tied to data center developments, including $20,000 from JK Land Holdings owned by Chuck Kuhn, developer behind Innovation on the Parkway.

The contributions far surpass surrounding counties, $117,800 more than Fairfax County supervisors and 17 times more than Loudoun County. Only two supervisors accepted no data center contributions: Tom Gordy (Brentsville District) and George Stewart (Gainesville District). All eight seats are up for reelection in 2027.

🔖Eagan, Minnesota

Eagan City Council will vote Tuesday on a one-year moratorium on new data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations, preventing approval of any new applications or expansions until February 17, 2027.

The moratorium would allow the city to conduct a study determining the best regulatory approach for data centers. Data centers have become controversial in Minnesota, with projects in Hermantown and Farmington meeting local resistance.

Critics raise concerns about vast resource consumption and contributions to global warming. The same issues apply to cryptocurrency mining, which consumes significant processing power for financial transactions. The council will take public comment before voting.

🔖Allen Park, Michigan

Solstice Data met with Allen Park residents to discuss plans for a proposed 26-megawatt edge data center on Enterprise Drive following a tense January planning commission hearing that drew dozens of residents and prompted officials to postpone the site plan for additional review.

Company officials stressed they wanted to hear questions and "make sure everyone has the facts" about the roughly 45,000 to 53,000 square-foot facility. Meanwhile, opposition has been vocal: protesters rallied outside city hall, and a Change.org petition opposing AI data centers collected more than 1,500 signatures.

Residents raised concerns about air quality impacts on nearby wetlands, indirect effects on electric bills despite state protections, constant background noise, increased truck traffic, and regular fuel deliveries for backup power. The city's planning consultant noted the application lists 12 backup generators and 12 above-ground fuel tanks. The planning commission delayed action to allow for a sound study, fire department evaluation, and outreach to neighboring communities before revisiting the site plan.

⏪ In case you missed it...

Data Centers: Weekly Briefing // February 9 - 13, 2026

The Week’s Data Center Highlights. New York introduces nation’s most expansive state moratorium (3-year minimum); Canton, NC and Chatham County approve year-long bans; Montour County, PA unanimously denies 800-acre rezoning; Anthropic pledges 100% grid cost coverage. READ MORE.

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