Advocates Call for Light Pollution Regulations Amid Data Center Expansion

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• Sep 11
  VOTE·Florida

  Florida weighs whether Duke Energy's data center tariff leaves households on the hook

  Florida's Public Service Commission is reviewing Duke Energy Florida's proposed data center tariff to determine whether households will subsidize costs for major power users. Consumer advocates argue Duke's filing fails to comply with Senate Bill 484 by lacking a distinct rate schedule for large-load customers, while Duke contends its proposal includes sufficient protections.

  The Cool Down · Florida
• Sep 11
  NEWS·Louisiana

  Ind., La. Data Center Needs Drive Gas, Batteries in 5th MISO Fast-track Queue

  Headline onlyRTO Insider · Louisiana
• Sep 11
  VOTE·Davidson Co., TN

  NAACP, Stand Up Nashville hold data center town hall with experts from across the country

  The Nashville NAACP and Stand Up Nashville held a town hall Thursday featuring data center experts to discuss impacts from facilities like xAI's Memphis hyperscale center. Speakers detailed air, water and noise pollution concerns in affected communities, with state Rep. Aftyn Behn planning legislation to pause data center tax breaks next session.

  WSMV · Davidson Co., TN
• Sep 11
  NEWS

  Fairfield mayor checks out Patmos data center

  Headline onlyWBRC
• Sep 10
  LAWSUIT·Jefferson Co., AL

  Regions Bank shareholder sues over Birmingham land sale for Nebius data center

  A Regions Bank shareholder has sued bank officers and holding companies over the sale of Birmingham land now being developed into a Nebius data center, alleging the bank missed out on more than $66 million when the property sold for $17.2 million and resold within a day for $83.5 million.

  WVTM · Jefferson Co., AL
• Sep 10
  VOTE·Alabama

  Brookwood data center developer donates $25k to Tuberville campaign

  Applied Digital Corporation, developer of a Brookwood data center, donated $25,000 to U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville's gubernatorial campaign in August. Democrat Doug Jones criticized Tuberville for accepting campaign funds from tech companies building data centers in Alabama while holding stocks in major tech firms.

  wvua23.com · Alabama
• Sep 10
  ZONING·Florida

  Byron Donalds says data center dollars don’t influence his policy positions

  Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds says millions of dollars in campaign contributions from artificial intelligence and data center interests don't influence his policy positions, though he has supported industry-friendly proposals including small modular nuclear reactors and closed-loop water systems. Donalds has recently shifted toward supporting local control over data center siting, a position his Democratic opponent David Jolly contrasts with his earlier statements opposing bans.

  floridapolitics.com · Florida
• Sep 10
  NEWS·Fulton Co., GA

  Thor Equities Plans $1B Data Center In North Georgia: The Atlanta Deal Sheet

  Thor Equities is proposing a $1 billion, 350,000-square-foot data center on nearly 560 acres in Bartow County north of Atlanta, expected to deliver by 2030 and generate $2 million annually in local tax revenues while employing 50 full-time workers.

  Bisnow · Fulton Co., GA
• Sep 10
  VOTE·Louisiana

  Former EPA officials warn of health risks from data center pollution

  Former EPA officials warn that data center expansion to support artificial intelligence could impose $11.7 billion to $20.9 billion in annual public-health costs by 2028, including roughly 600,000 asthma cases and 1,300 premature deaths, citing a 2026 academic study. The Environmental Protection Network's report contends the EPA is weakening pollution safeguards and limiting public participation in permitting decisions as data centers proliferate.

  Louisiana Illuminator · Louisiana
• Sep 10
  LAWSUIT·Richland Parish, LA

  Entergy eases confidentiality restrictions in Meta power case

  Entergy Louisiana agreed to ease confidentiality restrictions allowing representatives from the Alliance for Affordable Energy and Union of Concerned Scientists limited access to sensitive evidence in the utility's multibillion-dollar power expansion case related to Meta's Richland Parish data center. The agreement does not provide access to underlying Meta records the groups sought through an unsuccessful subpoena last month.

  The Center Square · Richland Parish, LA
• Sep 10
  NEWS·Mississippi

  As data centers expand, advocates call for regulations on lights

  Headline onlyMississippi Today · Mississippi
• Sep 10
  NEWS

  Data centers bring mixed housing effects, boost commercial real estate: Report

  A National Association of Realtors report found data centers' effects on housing markets vary by location, with no clear single impact, though counties with 10 or more data centers showed higher median home values but also higher residential electricity rate increases. Data centers demonstrated clearer positive effects on commercial real estate, with half of surveyed Realtors reporting increased commercial property values and industrial properties near data centers commanding rent premiums.

  WBMA