Local votes impose new bans and approval requirements on data centers

U.S. voters approved data center restrictions in the Nov. 3 elections, including construction bans, moratoriums and requirements for public approval, Mashable reported. The measures directly constrain where developers can build or expand facilities. Edgewater, Florida, barred new centers and limited expansion of existing projects. El Dorado, Kansas, approved a 10-year ban on high-impact facilities using more than 100,000 gallons of water daily. Janesville, Wisconsin, required a public vote before approval of a data center project costing $450 million to $8 billion. The ballot questions varied: some imposed binding restrictions, while others asked whether residents supported development.