Today’s AI Data Center News

Here are today’s most significant data center locality stories — regulatory battles, community opposition, and legal challenges shaping where data centers can be built across the United States.

1. Google proposes Nebraska data center requiring more power than all of Lincoln
Nebraska · Power Grid or Energy
Google has proposed a massive new data center in Nebraska that would require more electricity than the entire city of Lincoln currently uses. This development highlights the growing strain data centers place on local power grids and underscores the need for infrastructure planning in energy supply. Read here.

2. $2B data center tax break fight pushes Virginia budget negotiations
Virginia · Government Policy
Virginia lawmakers are embroiled in a contentious debate over a $2 billion tax break package for data centers, which is now a key sticking point in the state’s budget negotiations. The outcome will significantly influence the state’s attractiveness to data center investments and set a precedent for tax incentives in the industry. Read here.

3. Alabama Senate passes bill to rein in data center tax incentives
Alabama · Government Policy
The Alabama Senate has passed legislation aimed at curbing data center tax incentives, signaling a shift toward more restrictive fiscal policies for the industry. This move could impact future data center development and investment decisions within the state. Read here.

4. Lowell City Council imposes 360-day moratorium on new data center construction
Massachusetts · Zoning Permit
The Lowell City Council has enacted a 360-day moratorium on new data center construction to allow time for review and consideration of the impacts. This pause reflects growing local concerns about data center expansion and could influence regulatory approaches in other municipalities. Read here.

5. Sedgwick County commissioners hold town hall on proposed data centers
Kansas · Community Pushback
Sedgwick County commissioners held a town hall meeting to address community concerns and opposition regarding proposed data center projects. This local engagement highlights increasing public scrutiny and potential hurdles for data center development at the county level. Read here.

This roundup is generated daily from our Data Center Locality Report. Subscribe for the full intelligence briefing.

The analysis of 88 data center locality articles on March 13, 2026, identified locality issues in 65.9% of cases, with government policy emerging as the predominant concern, accounting for 31 instances. Community pushback and power grid or energy challenges were also notable issues, appearing 13 and 6 times respectively. Among states, Virginia recorded the highest number of locality issues (11), followed by Minnesota and Kansas with 5 each, while Georgia reported 2. These findings indicate that regulatory environments and local community resistance are critical factors influencing data center site viability, particularly in Virginia.

Today’s Data Center News at a Glance

• 88 data center articles analyzed
• 58 articles (65.9%) involve local opposition or regulatory issues

Top States with Locality Issues

1. Virginia: 11 issues (19.0%)
2. General: 9 issues (15.5%)
3. Minnesota: 5 issues (8.6%)
4. Kansas: 5 issues (8.6%)
5. Georgia: 2 issues (3.4%)

Primary Issue Types

• Government Policy & Regulation: 31 articles (53.4%)
• Community Opposition: 13 articles (22.4%)
• Power Grid & Energy: 6 articles (10.3%)

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