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2026 Maine Senate
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Counties Pause Data Center Approvals
Coverage from Modesto Bee, KUAR, and others
Counties and cities in North Carolina, Nebraska, Arkansas, California, South Carolina, and Utah are using moratoriums, permit decisions, and new zoning reviews to manage proposed data center development.
Officials and residents are focusing on electricity demand, water use, noise, land use, and potential effects on utility costs and nearby communities. The actions generally delay or condition new projects rather than establish permanent bans, although some proposals have been denied and exemptions have created legal and political disputes.
The story has shifted from proposed or developing pauses toward enacted local decisions, including Cumberland’s approved moratorium, Newberry’s denial and subsequent permitting pause, and Iron County’s project-specific approval. It also expands geographically into Nebraska and Utah.