# Cherokee Nation bars hyperscale data centers on tribal lands

_Published Monday, August 17, 2026 at 8:07 AM EDT · Policy · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Data Center — Primary](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/K7Efwz7zHNob3LcA9bqtvX-2000-80.jpg)

The Cherokee Nation has banned hyperscale data-center development on its tribally owned and trust lands following a task-force review. The tribe also said it will not support projects on non-tribal land within its northeastern Oklahoma reservation without early consultation. The report cited energy and water use, air quality, noise, and cultural-resource protection. Existing hyperscale projects in the reservation are on non-tribal land and are unaffected because the Nation has no direct regulatory control over those sites.

## Sources

- [Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/largest-tribe-in-the-us-bans-hyperscale-data-centers-on-its-lands)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/xeJbBVeJlNpo6-vp8WwAvh
Published: 2026-08-17T12:07:36.344Z
Story chronology: 2026-08-17T11:27:32.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-10-01T16:37:38.653Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)