Data centers are not new to America, but the boom that’s making its way through the nation is slowly making them more known to Oklahoma markets.
There are more than 4,300 data centers in the nation, according to the global data center directory Data Center Map, and currently, Oklahoma communities are trying to decide where they stand on their involvement with the larger-scale centers cropping up nationwide.
Luther, a small town outside OKC, recently denied the application for a data center.
The City of Edmond recently passed a six-month moratorium on taking rezoning requests and issuing permits to properties that could become data centers. However, the city doesn’t have any recent applications for a data center.
“I worry about these things. I’ve seen what it’s done to communities. It’s torn them apart. It’s divided them. Anger. And I don’t want that happening in Edmond,” said Barry Moore, who represents Ward 2.