Moratoriums & Bans

Voters in Morgan County will decide contested races for County Commission, three state House seats, and statewide offices Tuesday, along with voting on constitutional amendments. Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and voters must present photo identification.

Decatur Daily · Morgan Co., AL

Bisnow · Florida

Headline onlyThe Commercial Appeal · Shelby Co., TN

Gubernatorial candidates discussed data center policy at a Tennessee Press Association forum, with Democratic nominee Jerri Green, Independents David Hatley and Lauren Pinkston, and Republican Marsha Blackburn proposing varying approaches to regulating data centers. Rutherford County recommended a 12-month moratorium on data center development in October.

MTSU Sidelines · Shelby Co., TN

A federal judge ruled that a lawsuit by the NAACP against xAI can proceed, rejecting the company's arguments that combustion turbines at its Colossus data center near Memphis are exempt from air permits. The NAACP alleges xAI operated at least 35 combustion turbines without proper preconstruction or operating permits.

NewsBytes · Shelby Co., TN

Lake County commissioners voted unanimously to extend a moratorium on large-scale data center development through June 2027 while exploring regulatory options. Public hearings on the proposed ordinance are scheduled for November 17 and December 1.

Mid Florida Newspapers · Florida

Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds called for permitting reform to reduce housing costs and set education goals including math, reading and writing mastery for graduates. He opposes Medicaid expansion, supports school choice policies, and said he would focus on nuclear power and natural gas for affordable energy while studying environmental concerns like dam removal.

FOX 13 Tampa Bay · Florida

Google is exploring demand-response programs to manage its AI data center power consumption, which surged 37% in 2025. The company has secured approximately 1 gigawatt of demand-response capacity through utility agreements to shift or reduce machine-learning workloads during peak demand periods.

Crypto Briefing · Louisiana

A federal judge denied xAI's motion to dismiss an NAACP lawsuit alleging the company operated gas turbines at its Memphis-area Colossus data center without required air permits, violating the Clean Air Act. The judge ruled plaintiffs have statutory standing and the turbines are not exempt mobile sources.

TechCrunch · Shelby Co., TN

1819 News

Democrat Phillip Ensler and Republican John Wahl debated in Huntsville Wednesday, clashing over taxes, data centers, education and residency requirements. Both backed removing the 2% state sales tax on groceries, though they differed on lottery expansion, school vouchers and data center regulation.

Decatur Daily · Madison Co., AL

Headline onlyFox News · Florida

West Virginia has implemented a certification program to streamline approvals for major data center projects, attracting investments from companies including Nscale and Starwood Digital Ventures, though the state's approach has faced some local opposition.

Crypto Briefing · Louisiana

Governor Jeff Landry and Louisiana Economic Development announced new requirements for data center companies seeking tax breaks, including commitments to prevent increased ratepayer costs, strengthen grid reliability, and invest in local workforces. The exemption program will now be invitation-only for companies making significant long-term commitments to the state.

WBRZ · Louisiana

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced new stipulations for data center tax breaks, including requirements that companies demonstrate commitment to preventing rate increases, strengthening grid reliability, protecting natural resources, and investing in local workforces. Critics argue the framework lacks specific details on job requirements and funding levels needed to qualify for the invitation-only exemption program.

WBRZ · Louisiana · also at WBRZ

Louisiana's governor has rebranded data centers as "digital factories" to address growing public opposition over their water and power consumption, similar to concerns that prompted Texas to issue a moratorium on such facilities. The state also announced a "Ratepayer and Community Protection Framework" requiring companies seeking tax exemptions to make commitments in workforce investment and grid improvements, though specific performance benchmarks remain unclear.

NOLA.com · Sumner Co., TN

State Rep. Phillip Ensler, a Democrat, and former Republican Party Chairman John Wahl debated data centers and utility rates in Alabama's first major-party statewide debate since 2010. Ensler proposed a moratorium on new data center construction, citing resident concerns about transparency and rising electricity prices, while Wahl called data centers "a necessary evil" that must be implemented responsibly.

Inside Climate News · Madison Co., AL

Headline onlyrocketcitynow.com · Alabama

Tampa City Council directed staff to stop processing new AI data center applications, advancing a proposal that could reshape how the city regulates the industry. The council has not yet adopted a formal moratorium ordinance and will consider a resolution at its Nov. 5 meeting, with public hearings scheduled for December and January.

Hoodline · Hillsborough Co., FL

Democratic candidate Victor Arias, running in Florida's U.S. District 19, supports a data center moratorium to allow public education on their impacts. Arias emphasized priorities including unity, economic relief, environmental protection, and Social Security in his campaign interview.

Gulf Coast News and Weather · Florida

Tampa City Council approved a motion to halt new artificial intelligence data center applications and develop a temporary moratorium on such facilities. The proposal, introduced by Chair Alan Clendenin, directs staff to prepare regulations and schedule public hearings in December and January.

Florida Politics · Hillsborough Co., FL

Southeast Georgia cities are receiving data center development inquiries following OpenAI's announced $20 billion Effingham County project. Communities across Bulloch, Bryan, Effingham and Liberty counties are implementing moratoriums and developing ordinances to regulate data center development, with concerns about water infrastructure and power grid vulnerability.

Statesboro Herald · Effingham Co., GA

A Louisiana TV station investigated President Trump's claim that residents near Meta's Hyperion data center received $10,000 checks and found no evidence supporting it. Two local residents and the state's economic development agency confirmed no such payments were made, though teachers in the school district received $50,000 bonuses from increased tax revenue.

Reality Tea · Richland Parish, LA · also at AOL.com, Yahoo, Crave Online

Lake County commissioners extended the county's data center moratorium through June 2027, temporarily pausing development while officials develop local regulations. The extension carries the moratorium beyond the next legislative session in Tallahassee and reflects majority commission support for the temporary pause rather than a permanent ban.

WFTV · Leon Co., FL

Martin County commissioners voted 4-0 to approve a temporary moratorium on large-scale AI data centers, citing resident concerns about a proposed facility's proximity to homes and schools and the need for further study of environmental effects. The one-year ban will not apply to a pending request submitted before an earlier vote.

1290 WJNO · Florida · also at WIOD, Real Radio 92.1, BIG 105.9

Southeast Georgia cities and counties are implementing data center moratoriums and developing stricter ordinances to manage growth anticipated after OpenAI's announced 1,400-acre Effingham County campus, citing concerns about water infrastructure and power grid vulnerability in a region previously considered unsuitable for such facilities.

Bryan County News · Effingham Co., GA

A proposed 542-acre data center campus near Eatonton in Putnam County would include up to 11 buildings consuming 520 megawatts of power, with a $3.5 billion estimated value and 2031 anticipated completion. The project faces a county moratorium on data center permits extended through November 2026 and requires local zoning approvals.

Construction Review · Georgia

President Trump claimed residents near a Louisiana data center received $10,000 checks, but a New Orleans TV station found no evidence of such payments. Louisiana's economic development agency and local residents were unaware of any checks, though the state did provide $50,000 teacher bonuses funded by construction-related sales tax revenue.

The Daily Beast · Louisiana

President Trump claimed Louisiana residents near a data center each received $10,000 checks, but Louisiana Economic Development and residents told WWL-TV in New Orleans no such payments were made. Wagner noted bonuses of up to $50,000 were paid to local teachers from sales tax revenue, not residents.

Raw Story · Louisiana

A subsidiary of Elon Musk's xAI is offering to purchase homes in Southaven, Mississippi, on the condition that residents release claims related to a lawsuit against the company's nearby data center and power plant. The offer reportedly affects around 418 homes, with some renters already being displaced after landlords agreed to sell.

The Verge · DeSoto Co., MS

Three candidates—Democrat Jerri Green and independents David Hatley and Lauren Pinkston—discussed affordability, rural healthcare, education funding and data centers at a gubernatorial forum hosted by Middle Tennessee State University and the Tennessee Press Association. Republican frontrunner Sen. Marsha Blackburn declined to participate, instead hosting a simultaneous campaign rally.

Nashville Banner · Tennessee

Headline onlyThe Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · Tennessee

Oregon's Department of Transportation has placed at least 20 fiber-optic permit applications on hold following Gov. Tina Kotek's September directive pausing data center approvals on state lands, as officials determine whether the broadband projects have connections to data centers.

The Corvallis Advocate

Headline onlywtsp.com

The Trinity Town Council postponed a rezoning decision Monday on 184.12 acres after more than 50 residents voiced concerns about potential industrial development, including a possible data center, near their neighborhoods. The council tabled the ordinances until Nov. 9 to research possible restrictions on future development.

Decatur Daily

Martin County commissioners unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on large-scale data center applications to allow time for environmental studies and development of future regulations. The decision comes as an applicant seeks approval for the Florida Gateway Project, a 100-megawatt data center on Kanner Highway.

WPBF · Florida

R Street Institute · Florida

The Venice City Council adopted a 12-month moratorium on large-scale data center applications and permits, effective immediately, to allow staff time to review impacts on utilities, water supply and environmental concerns including wetlands and coastal ecosystems. The moratorium covers comprehensive plan amendments, rezoning, conditional uses and related applications.

ABC7 WWSB · Florida

Headline onlyTreasure Coast News · Florida · also at Yahoo, Miami Herald

Martin County commissioners voted unanimously to temporarily halt new applications for large data centers in unincorporated areas for one year, giving officials time to develop regulations addressing concerns about electricity consumption and environmental impacts.

WPEC · Florida · also at WPEC