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Oklahoma City Council to Vote on Extending Data Center Moratorium Through 2027
The Oklahoma City Council will vote Tuesday on whether to extend its moratorium on new data center projects until Dec. 31, 2027, giving officials more time to study the facilities' impacts. The vote follows the council's approval of a controversial Beltline Energy hyperscale data center rezoning that has alarmed Yukon residents.
OKLAHOMA CITY â The Oklahoma City Council is set to vote Tuesday on whether to extend its current moratorium on new data center projects until Dec. 31, 2027, a move that would give city leaders additional time to assess the facilities' effects on the community.
The proposal on the council's agenda goes beyond a six-month extension previously advocated by Mayor David Holt. The city has been weighing how to regulate the power-hungry facilities, which have proliferated in recent years.
The vote comes on the heels of the council's decision to approve rezoning for a data center project proposed by Beltline Energy. That facility, described as a hyperscale data center requiring significant power, is expected to generate $17 million in sales tax and franchise fees for Oklahoma City. Beltline Energy also plans to build another data center on adjacent Yukon land.
The city has attached conditions to the project, including a cap on water usage at 75,000 gallons and a requirement that noise levels remain appropriate for a residential area. Before construction can begin, the company and the city must finalize a community benefits agreement.
The rezoning request was submitted before the moratorium took effect, allowing it to proceed despite the pause. The project has drawn concerns from neighbors just across the city line in Yukon.
"It's the same thing. We're really concerned about the effects, especially on the people just across the fence," Yukon resident Joe Horn said.
The moratorium extension, if approved, would apply to future projects and give the city more time to research data centers' potential impact on infrastructure, water resources and surrounding neighborhoods. The council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.