Oklahoma City Council Extends 75-Megawatt Data Center Moratorium Through 2027 to Study Water and Energy Demands

Oklahoma City Council Votes Unanimously to Extend Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium Through 2027

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma — In a sweeping unanimous vote on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, the Oklahoma City Council extended a municipal moratorium on large-scale data center developments through December 31, 2027. The pause applies specifically to commercial computing facilities designed to consume more than 75 megawatts of electricity, granting municipal planners, civil engineers, and environmental consultants essential runway to analyze infrastructure strains on regional water utilities and electrical substations.

Council members noted that while digital infrastructure creates valuable corporate property assessments, the immense water cooling requirements of hyper-scale server campuses must not compete with municipal drinking water supplies or drive up residential electric utility rates across central Oklahoma.

OKC Planning Department Delivers Inaugural 10-Year Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy

In municipal housing developments, the Oklahoma City Planning Department formally presented its first citywide Comprehensive Housing Strategy to the City Council. The landmark 10-year master plan outlines actionable regulatory solutions to alleviate escalating rent burdens, recommending zoning reforms that incentivize mixed-income multifamily developments near bus rapid transit lines and expanding municipal community land trust protections across historic neighborhoods.

Planning Director Geoff Butler highlighted that proactive municipal land policies will ensure Oklahoma City preserves its renowned cost-of-living advantage while supporting workforce housing for service employees and young families.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Shorthanded Thunder in Resilient Road Battle Against Blazers

On the road at the Moda Center, the Oklahoma City Thunder battled the Portland Trail Blazers in the opening clash of a back-to-back series. Despite playing without injured starters Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, All-NBA superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a resolute 26-point performance, displaying exceptional perimeter craftiness and poise as head coach Mark Daigneault evaluated developmental bench lineups.