Independence County has adopted a five-year moratorium on new data center developments, the longest such pause in Arkansas, reflecting growing statewide debate about these large facilities. The County’s quorum court unanimously approved the measure on Monday, citing concerns over resources and transparency.
Justice of the Peace Brad Covington said the county lacks the infrastructure to support data centers and questioned the economic benefits for residents. “It’s not something that the citizens want or need, and it doesn’t do anything for the citizens of Independence County,” he said Tuesday.
Although no data center projects have been proposed in Independence County, officials pointed to a recent experience with wind turbine developments as a cautionary tale. After passing a three-year ban on wind turbines in 2025, local leaders discovered that dozens of contracts to build turbines had been signed before the ban took effect.
“It just raised our eyebrow as to all these things that can be going on behind the scenes,” Covington said. Similar concerns about land-use transparency, coupled with worries about resource needs like water and energy and a perceived lack of significant job creation, prompted officials to preemptively block data centers.
Independence County joins a growing number of Arkansas jurisdictions enacting moratoriums on such facilities. Union and Carroll counties both passed one-year moratoriums in June, while Russellville approved a six-month pause in July. Meanwhile, Pulaski County and Little Rock have failed in multiple attempts since May to enact moratoria, despite two large data center proposals prompting public pushback in those areas. Other major Arkansas cities, including Fayetteville and Fort Smith, have instituted regulations on the facilities in recent months.
The debates in Arkansas reflect broader national tensions around data centers, which have surged in development as companies like Google and Meta expand to meet the computing demands of artificial intelligence. While supporters tout the economic benefits, critics argue that the facilities require significant energy and water resources while providing few local jobs. In recent months, Republican and Democratic leaders across the country have taken action. Texas Governor Greg Abbott temporarily halted new data center approvals statewide in June, following a similar statewide pause in New York.
Although Arkansas currently has six large data center projects in development or under construction, none are planned for Independence County. County Judge Kevin Jeffrey said local leaders followed developments nationwide and took a cautious approach. “It’s responsible, for the citizenry, to not have regrets but rather be on the front end of it and be prepared,” Jeffrey said. “In the meantime, it just gives us some breathing room to take everything in.”