Tue, July 14
The Pulaski County Quorum Court re-votes on sending the moratorium to the full Quorum Court.
We demand a seat at the table.
Two hyperscale data centers within 5 miles of each other negotiated for two years before the public knew a thing.
Now they want our water, our power, our money, and our land. We're not asking permission to be heard. We're demanding it: a moratorium of at least 12 months, full transparency, and a real voice before a single permit is signed.
The Latest
Pulaski County (AVAIO) has been a rollercoaster: drama with the County Judge and Attorney, a moratorium passed but reversed on a miscount, a Justice of the Peace resigning, and more. Keep up with the latest here.
The City of Little Rock (Google) has been giving us lip service as always: a toothless set of regulations, a 6-month moratorium that excludes Google, op-eds and public statements "regretting" not asking enough questions, and more. Keep up with the latest here.
They're after our power.
And we're not talking about our electricity.
This is our water. Our land. Our Electricity. Our Air.
They can't take our power without our say.
We're not anti-jobs. We're not anti-technology. We're people who live here, and we're done being told about decisions after they're already made.
A deal this big, drawing this much from shared public resources, doesn't get negotiated in secret and rushed through without adequate notice or real conversation. Not in our community.
We're asking our local elected officials (Justices of the Peace, City Directors, Mayor, County Judge) to do one simple thing: listen to the people who elected them before they hand over the keys. They’ve given out-of-state corporations a seat at the table for more than 2 years. We deserve the same and more.
The Spin vs.
The Reality
In May, the Regional Chamber and the utilities held a press conference to "combat misinformation." Here's what they said, next to what the public record shows.
What they're telling you...
On SizeGoogle’s modest $1 billion 300,000-square-foot facility at an industrial port. AVAIO’s $6 billion investment to build facilities nearby. Routine economic development.
On Cost to YouUtilities and officials say residents won't foot the bill. The data centers will pay their cost "plus" in power, infrastructure, and savings. Besides, rates are already below the national average.
On ProcessCity and county officials say they have been very open and transparent; they just couldn’t tell us the name of the business. NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) are "standard practice" for landing a deal this big. The companies and groups involved are publishing fact sheets.
On the EconomyData centers will bring well-paying jobs. They will be among the largest taxpayers in the county, funding schools and police. They will be good corporate residents.
What the record shows...
On SizeGoogle proposed 1.43 million square feet across several structures on 380 acres of land (a modest 287 football fields). This includes 17 acres of wetland. AVAIO would be on twice as much land, less than 1 mile from Daisy Bates Elementary.
On Cost to YouAcross the country, residents near new data centers have watched power bills jump. Entergy dodges questions about it, especially the 3 power stations they are already building and billing us for.
Besides, our rates take more out of our paychecks compared with other states.
The deal with Google was signed in April 2025 with less than 12 hours of public notice. Google wasn't named until a January 2026 newspaper report, not even by our own officials. For AVAIO, there was no notice. Both have been in the works for two years.
On the EconomyHyperscale centers employ very few permanent workers for their footprint. They are receiving the largest tax break the state allows, 65% for 30 years. It is unclear if their tax breaks will pay for the infrastructure needed to serve them, keep us safe, and cover their true costs.
You may hear people say that these data centers are vital to our economy, or that they are inevitable and the result of our choices to use social media or send email. While online life has required data centers, the accelerated construction and scale of data centers is recent.
This is largely driven by uses that don’t apply to the average Arkansan like you and me, nor that we asked to be forced upon us in the tools we use every day.
The True Cost of these AI Data Centers
There aren't just "clouds" of data. These are massive industrial facilities that take a huge toll on local resources while returning very few jobs or benefits to the community.
Safety
Thousands of servers lined up next to each other, generating heat, can lead to fires that are difficult to control, especially for a volunteer fire department. These buildings also become targets for bad actors, whether cybercriminals or foreign agents.
Utilities
Data centers demand as much electricity as entire cities and consume millions of gallons of water per day. Will rates increase? What will happen in a drought, storm, or power outage? Will water sources be depleted?
Noise
Thousands of industrial cooling fans run 24/7, creating a persistent, low-frequency hum that disrupts sleep and degrades the quality of life for nearby residents.
Environment
Heat exhaust from servers, Forever chemicals in wastewater. Use of fossil fuels. Flooding risks. Air pollution. These are a few of the environmental costs. It's our job to protect our Natural State and the people living here.
There are several other costs and concerns related to data centers and the AI that they support.
Winning is possible.
Other communities are pushing back and being successful.
Wisconsin - Ballot Measures & Toolkits
Port Washington residents collected enough signatures to vote on a ballot measure related to data centers, and it passed. Residents now get a say at the ballot box any time a substantial tax incentive is being offered. Other small cities have stopped the data centers altogether, including residents in Menomonie who have developed a toolkit for organizers across the country to follow.
North Carolina - Moratoriums & Lawsuits
Port Washington residents collected enough signatures to vote on a ballot measure related to data centers, and it passed. Residents now get a say at the ballot box any time a substantial tax incentive is being offered. Other small cities have stopped the data centers altogether, including residents in Menomonie who have developed a toolkit for organizers across the country to follow.
Missouri - Vote Them Out
Port Washington residents collected enough signatures to vote on a ballot measure related to data centers, and it passed. Residents now get a say at the ballot box any time a substantial tax incentive is being offered. Other small cities have stopped the data centers altogether, including residents in Menomonie who have developed a toolkit for organizers across the country to follow.
Upcoming Events
Don't let them decide our future behind closed doors. Join us at these critical meetings and rallies.
City Board meeting - voting on 6-month moratorium exempting Google
City Hall, 500 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72201
Pulaski County Quorum Court (agenda setting meeting)
4th floor, County Administration Building, 201 Broadway St, Little Rock
National Day of Protest against data centers
12512 Hwy 365 Wrightsville, AR 72206
Pulaski county planning board
4th floor, County Administration Building, 201 Broadway St, Little Rock
Pulaski County Quorum Court
4th floor, County Administration Building, 201 Broadway St, Little Rock
On Tuesdays...
We Wear Green.
Wear a green bandana to the local government meetings to stand in solidarity with us. Need a bandana? Pick up one below.