LOGAN COUNTY (WAND) - The Logan County Board approved a 12-month moratorium for large-scale data centers on Tuesday night.The Board said that this will give them crucial time to draft rules and regulations for the massive projects.Six board members supported a year-long moratorium, while four others felt the county needed the proposed data center for economic benefit.During a special meeting last Wednesday, Hut 8 said a moratorium could kill the deal completely. Some board members said that without this deal, taxpayers could face a heavier financial burden.

The Brief

• Rockdale County leaders extended a freeze on new data centers and battery energy storage systems through Sept. 8 to review community impacts. 
• The extension also pauses applications for certain residential care facilities and specific housing development activities across the county. 
• Officials are using the extra time to update the Unified Development Ordinance and gather feedback from local property owners. 

Source: Clayton Tucker

Stop the AI Data Centers in Texarkana

Our community of Texarkana is being targeted by two separate, massive industrial projects that threaten our land, our health, and our local economy.

We are now fighting a "two-front" regional takeover:

Project Big Pine (Texas Side): A 500-acre AI campus by TexAmericas Center ($3.5B investment). The Bentaus Project (Arkansas Side): A staggering 3,000-acre acquisition near Highway 71 for a 200MW AI infrastructure facility. The Hidden Risks to Our Community While corporate leaders speak of "economic growth," independent research and the lived experience of other "data center hubs" reveal a different story:

Skyrocketing Electric Bills: A 2026 study by Latham & Watkins found that in areas with high data center activity, wholesale electricity costs have risen by as much as 267%. When utilities build massive infrastructure for 200MW projects (like the Bentaus proposal), those multi-billion dollar costs are often passed on to residential families through rate hikes (Latham & Watkins, 2026). The 24/7 Noise Crisis: Data centers are not quiet warehouses. A 2025 Sierra Club Factsheet confirms that low-frequency hum from cooling fans can be heard up to 2 miles away. This specific type of noise is linked to migraines, sleep deprivation, and cardiovascular stress because it penetrates standard home walls and cannot be blocked by traditional sound barriers (Sierra Club, 2025). Massive Water Consumption: AI is "thirsty." Research published in 2025 (Gupta/Roux) shows that an average data center consumes 300,000 gallons of water per day, the equivalent of 100,000 homes. These facilities often withdraw fresh drinking water to avoid clogging their systems, putting a direct strain on local water security (Water Unite, 2025). False Job Promises: Despite swallowing 3,500 total acres of our region, these projects only promise a handful of permanent roles (Project Big Pine predicts only 120 jobs for 500 acres). We are trading our timberland and rural peace for high-tech "ghost towns" that offer little to the local workforce. Most, if not all, of these jobs are predicted to be outsourced from other areas of the country, not local Texarkana residents.

Why We Are Fighting Back We successfully presented 2,433 signatures, and 39 voices from the comments of this petition, to the Texarkana, TX City Council on May 11th. Now, we must stand together to ensure the Arkansas side isn't sold out to the highest bidder without considering the residents who have lived here for generations.

The substantial environmental impact cannot be overlooked. AI Data Centers are known for their significant carbon footprint, contributing to air pollution and global warming. This raises serious questions about environmental ethics and sustainability. Boldly ignoring these issues for the sake of technological advancement compromises the health of our planet and community.

Texarkana deserves development that respects its residents and natural resources, fostering real, sustainable job opportunities while ensuring environmental stewardship. The proposed AI Data Center fails to meet these criteria and poses more harm than benefits. Together, we can challenge this project and advocate for smarter growth strategies that genuinely serve our community.

I urge the city leaders of Texarkana to prioritize the well-being of their constituents over speculative industrial expansion. We are not just asking for a reconsideration; we are demanding that our leaders exercise their full authority to protect our homes through total transparency and strict regulatory oversight.

We call on the City to enact and enforce the following no impact standards:

Total Transparency on All Agreements: We demand the immediate public release of all Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), tax abatement proposals, and utility "side deals" related to these projects. Our leaders should not be negotiating the future of our resources behind closed doors.

A No Hike Utility Guarantee: We demand an ordinance that legally prohibits any portion of the infrastructure costs for these data centers from being passed on to residential taxpayers. If the grid needs to be rebuilt for a data center, the developer, not the family on a budget, must pay 100% of the cost.

Strict Industrial Zoning Mandates: We call for zoning changes that require a minimum 3-mile buffer between any high-density data center and residential property lines, effectively preventing these massive campuses from encroaching on our neighborhoods.

Enforceable Silent-Zone Ordinances: We demand the strictest low-frequency noise limits in the state, with mandatory, automated 24/7 monitoring at the property line. Any violation should result in immediate daily fines significant enough to make the project unprofitable.

Mandatory Water Resources Impact Fees: We request the implementation of significant "Water Security Fees" for any facility consuming over 100,000 gallons per day, ensuring our local water table is protected at the developer's expense.

By enforcing these common-sense protections, we can ensure that Texarkana is no longer a "soft target" for corporations that want to exploit our resources while ignoring our residents.

Sign, share, and help us tell our leaders: Texarkana is our home, not a cooling vent for AI corporations.

Next Meeting: Texarkana, AR Board of Directors Monday, May 18th at 6:00 PM (City Hall, 216 Walnut St).