Pulaski County’s Quorum Court has approved a new set of regulations for data centers in Arkansas’ most populous county. The 11-4 vote came Tuesday night, with the majority-Democrat panel adopting rules aimed at addressing noise, water and power use, and infrastructure impacts for future projects.
County Judge Barry Hyde, a Democrat, now has seven days to either sign or veto the measure. If Hyde takes no action, the regulations will automatically go into effect. Hyde, who appeared skeptical of the proposal during the meeting, has not yet indicated whether he will sign off on it.
The ordinance, authored by Wendell Griffen—a former judge and current Democratic nominee for county judge—requires developers to submit detailed project plans, including electrical load analyses, water and wastewater plans, land-use studies, and decommissioning strategies. The regulations also require developers to prove that projects will not “materially impair” utilities or other public infrastructure serving neighboring properties. However, the rules do not specify caps on water or power usage.
Justice of the Peace Julie Blackwood, who sponsored the measure, recently told the *Arkansas Times* that the regulations would apply to AVAIO, a proposed data center project in unincorporated Pulaski County that has drawn significant public opposition. AVAIO is one of six planned data center projects in Arkansas, with facilities in West Memphis and Clarksville already under construction.
Concerns over the environmental and infrastructural impact of data centers, which require substantial electrical and water resources to sustain their computing operations, have fueled growing local and national opposition. Polling indicates increasing public dissatisfaction with these projects, with critics arguing they strain public resources and alter the character of surrounding communities. Little Rock, the state’s capital, adopted its own regulations earlier this year.
The AVAIO proposal has been a flashpoint in the controversy, with some Pulaski County residents and environmental advocates voicing alarm over its potential impact on the area. The debates have also drawn in business interests, such as the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, which has advocated for data center development as a driver for economic growth.
Concerns over data centers have emerged nationwide as technology companies like Meta and Google expand their infrastructure to support artificial intelligence (AI) models. While data centers have long powered internet services such as email and social media, newer AI models require massive computing power, significantly increasing demands on resources.
Pulaski County’s process to draft regulations has faced numerous delays, including a vote miscount during an earlier effort to impose a temporary moratorium. The question of whether to exempt the AVAIO project from regulations has been hotly debated, but Blackwood has maintained it will not receive any special treatment.
The quorum court’s decision marks Pulaski County’s latest attempt to balance the economic promise of data centers with environmental and community concerns. Hyde’s decision in the coming days will determine whether the new rules take effect immediately.