Oklahoma City Council approves rezoning for a Beltline Energy data center campus, with limits on water and noise

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 29) — The Oklahoma City Council has approved rezoning for a large data center campus on the city's far west side, after months of delays and debate over water, noise and power.

Councilors voted 6-3 on Tuesday on each of two rezoning requests for Beltline Energy, a Georgia-based developer, Fox 25 reported. The land sits on both sides of Interstate 40 west of Frisco Road, about 110 acres north of the highway and 184 acres south of it, The Journal Record reported in a story first published by The Oklahoman. James Cooper, JoBeth Hamon and Camal Pennington voted no.

The city has a moratorium on new data centers through the end of 2026, but Beltline's application was filed before it took effect. Mayor David Holt said the vote should not be read as a sign the city is opening its doors to more data centers. "How people vote today should not be interpreted as to how they vote in the future," he said, according to The Journal Record. Holt also asked that the moratorium be extended by six months.

Council member Katrina Avers, whose ward includes the site, pushed for the project and called it "a once in a century development." Cooper was blunt in opposing it. "You couldn't pay me money to support this," he said, Fox 25 reported.

The zoning comes with conditions. Water use is capped at 75,000 gallons a day, and treated water can't be used for cooling. Independent consultants will check that noise stays at or below 55 decibels, and generator testing is limited to weekday hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Beltline would help pay for a new OG&E substation, and electricity costs are not supposed to be shifted to residential customers, according to The Journal Record.

Before any building permit is issued, the council must approve a community benefits agreement with Beltline, which has not said who will operate the data center. Ryan Sanders, a managing partner at Beltline, told the council the project is a $9 billion investment. City Manager Craig Freeman estimated about $17 million a year for the city from sales taxes and franchise fees.