US Lawmakers and Residents Push to Restrict Data Center Expansion

Lawmakers and residents in multiple states are coordinating efforts to restrict the expansion of large-scale data centers, citing environmental concerns and a lack of corporate transparency. In Missouri, Tricia Byrnes and 15 other lawmakers have requested that Governor Mike Kehoe call a special session to regulate development and limit the use of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), which critics argue shield projects from public scrutiny. Similar opposition is surfacing in Minnesota, where Representatives Kristi Pursell and Bill Lieske are advocating for stricter water reporting and a two-year development moratorium.

Local governments are increasingly adopting restrictive measures. The Yankton County Commission in South Dakota recently voted to hold a public hearing on a moratorium for data centers exceeding 250 kilowatts. In Texas, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has urged Governor Greg Abbott to establish guardrails to prevent the loss of farmland and water resources to industrial projects.

These efforts follow grassroots protests against massive projects, including multi-billion dollar developments by Amazon and Google in Montgomery County, Missouri. Meanwhile, Kentucky legislators are hosting town halls in Louisville to discuss utility impacts, following moratoriums already implemented in cities like Lexington.