Cherokee Nation bans hyperscale data centers on its lands, won't support projects without consultation — energy and water consumption, air quality, noise, and cultural resource protection among concerns
Cherokee Nation, with more than 475,000 citizens, has banned hyperscale data center development on its tribally owned and trust lands.
The Cherokee Nation, a large tribal entity in the United States with a population exceeding 475,000, has prohibited the development of hyperscale data centers on its territories. This decision came after a task force report unveiled that 64% of the 1,593 Cherokee citizens surveyed were opposed to the construction of such facilities within the tribe's 14-county reservation in northeastern Oklahoma.
The concerns raised by the citizens encompassed energy and water consumption, air quality, noise, and the protection of cultural resources. The Cherokee Nation affirmed that it would not support projects on non-tribal land within the reservation without prior consultation.
Task force leader Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. emphasized that the tribe's primary duty is to safeguard its citizens and tribal communities from potential threats associated with these data centers. In response to this ban, existing hyperscale projects situated within the reservation, despite being on non-tribal land, remain unaffected.
Google's Pryor campus, for instance, has been operational since 2011, having undergone several expansion phases as part of Google's $9 billion commitment to Oklahoma. Similarly, Project Clydesdale and Project Mustang, located near Owasso and Claremore respectively, continue to progress under municipal and county approvals.
The task force report acknowledges that the Cherokee Nation lacks direct regulatory authority over land outside the reservation. However, it does possess the ability to engage in consultations. The report highlights that most projects intentionally circumvent federal permits necessitating such tribal consultations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Several tribal entities, including the Cherokee Nation, the Seminole Nation, and the Kickapoo Tribe, have instituted moratoriums on new data center developments. Similarly, the city of Tulsa imposed a nine-month moratorium on new approvals in March, contributing to a broader trend of at least 69 U.S. jurisdictions blocking new builds and 19 Michigan municipalities freezing approvals following the Saline Township Stargate incident.
The survey that led to this opposition also revealed that 73% of respondents utilize generative AI tools, with 34% employing them daily and 19% using them weekly. The report underscores the disparity between citizens' perceptions and their actions, recommending the creation of fact sheets and explanatory materials on the relationship between everyday AI usage and hyperscale data center demand.
Moreover, the report suggests establishing a permanent advisory committee to assess future proposals and provide guidance to the Principal Chief regarding emerging projects.
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