U.S. Cities Expand Data Center Moratoriums and Eminent Domain Efforts

Several U.S. municipalities have taken new steps to restrict the development of large‑scale data centers. Sanford, Maine, extended its emergency moratorium for 180 days, delaying a proposed 1,000‑acre data‑center project at the Sanford Woods campus. Sanpete County, Utah, approved a six‑month pause to allow officials to draft land‑use regulations for future data‑center proposals. Louisville, Kentucky, moved its planning committee forward to a full council vote on a six‑month moratorium pending comprehensive zoning rules. In Nashville, Tennessee, the Metro Council authorized the use of eminent domain to acquire the property adjacent to the Nashville Zoo for a DC BLOX data‑center project, while also imposing a temporary moratorium on new data‑center permits until December. These actions reflect growing community opposition and regulatory scrutiny of hyperscale data‑center developments across the United States.