Ordinances, Agreements & Moratorium Holds

Let’s learn about Legal Levers to Pause or Slow Data‑Center Projects

During our two‑day Equity Bootcamp, members made one thing clear: communities need more time, more clarity, and more support to understand the legal language that shapes data‑center development. This follow‑up session delivered exactly that.

Participants were joined by attorneys and legal experts who walked through the legal levers local governments and advocates can use to pause, slow, or reshape data‑center proposals. The session focused on three core tools:

• Ordinances that establish standards, protections, and limits

• Community benefit or development agreements that require accountability

• Moratorium holds that create time for assessment, organizing, and negotiation

Together, we explored how these mechanisms help communities protect air quality, water resources, grid stability, and neighborhood well‑being — and how they ensure developers cannot move faster than the public’s ability to respond.

This session equipped organizers, local officials, and coalition partners with clearer language, stronger strategies, and a deeper understanding of how to influence data‑center decisions in their communities.