Township residents and people from nearby communities questioned state environmental regulators during a hearing on a wastewater-treatment permit for a large OpenAI, Oracle and Related Digital data center. Residents requested stricter permit conditions, questioned allowing the operator to monitor its own discharge and raised concerns about phosphorus, emerging contaminants and cumulative effects on a local river.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Public Testimony/Written Comments
Public Meeting/Town Hall Participation
Farmers and other residents questioned the location of a proposed energy park at community meetings, sought more time for review and supported a temporary data-center moratorium. More than 200 people reportedly attended the developer’s information session.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Public Meeting/Town Hall Participation
County residents organized into a group after county commissioners approved a proposed 41-acre Global AI data center nearby. Following months of organizing and public testimony, the group began collecting signatures for two measures: a referendum that would ask voters to reconsider the project’s approval and an initiative requiring voter approval before future data centers receive occupancy permits. Each petition needs 9,103 valid signatures to reach the ballot.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Coalition Building/Community Organizing
Public Testimony/Written Comments
Ballot Initiative or Referendum Campaign/Signature Gathering
Residents have filed ethics complaints concerning the local government’s handling of a proposed $9.6 billion hyperscale data-center campus. The project became public about a year after city officials approved property transactions—including an option involving hundreds of acres of publicly owned land—largely through closed discussions. Residents allege that several City Council members should have abstained because they or close family members have employment or financial connections to LG&E and Kentucky Utilities, which could supply the energy-intensive project. At least two council members identified the utility as a source of household income in financial disclosures. The Carroll County Ethics Commission has begun considering the complaints.
Government Transparency & Accountability
Public Testimony/Written Comments
Public Records Request
Ethics Complaint
Local residents in Raleigh's historically Black and Latino neighborhoods opposed annexation of land designated for new data centers at public hearings and subsequently pressed the City Council for a temporary moratorium on new data centers. Community members made the request directly at a September 8 public-comment meeting.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Civic Initiative
Public Testimony/Written Comments
Public Meeting/Town Hall Participation
Miami County residents formed a coalition with nearly 1,400 Facebook members, attended lengthy public meetings, displayed signs, publicized a recording of commissioners discussing data centers, and continued monitoring local government's decisions on data centers.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Coalition Building/Community Organizing
Public Meeting/Town Hall Participation
Government Monitoring
Residents and members of environmental and community organizations rallied at City Hall and launched a campaign seeking a temporary citywide prohibition on new data centers.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Coalition Building/Community Organizing
Peaceful Protest/Demonstration
Residents, community organizations and a neighborhood school are challenging an approved Indianapolis data center in court and raising money for the legal effort.
Education
Fundraising
Litigation/Court Challenge
A coalition of environmental, farm and social advocacy groups demonstrated outside the state capitol building calling on the governor to issue a multi-year moratorium on new data center development in the state.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Coalition Building/Community Organizing
Peaceful Protest/Demonstration
In a heavily Republican county, a self-described libertarian and three-time Trump vote formed a local group, educated neighbors, helped organize a town hall and urged officials to regulate proposed data centers. Other rural residents attended commissioners’ meetings, contacted state leaders and participated in a Capitol protest.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Coalition Building/Community Organizing
Public Meeting/Town Hall Participation
Peaceful Protest/Demonstration
The county planning commission voted in favor of a data center moratorium that would bar development until regulations are in place to govern potential projects. The recommendation followed public testimony by a local coalition of county residents, farmers, and advocates (Cass County Data Center Watch) that called for the moratorium. The commission approved recommending the moratorium to the Board of Commissioners, which will have the final say over whether to approve one.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Coalition Building/Community Organizing
Public Testimony/Written Comments
A proposed AI data center was paused before construction could begin after the property owner withdrew his signature from a required land-use application, citing public opposition. Residents submitted comments, attended meetings, and organized around environmental and infrastructure concerns. The county government is considering a review and potential update to rules to ensure the full impact of data centers are addressed before approving future projects.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Public Testimony/Written Comments
Public Meeting/Town Hall Participation
