Developer Withdraws Rezoning for Major Second Phase of Tulsa Data Center Project

Developer Withdraws Rezoning for Major Second Phase of Tulsa Data Center Project

April 1, 2026

A significant expansion of a major data center campus in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been put on hold after the developer withdrew its application. The move highlights the growing tensions between large-scale digital infrastructure development and local community concerns, even in regions actively seeking such investments.

Atmoss LLC formally withdrew its application to rezone approximately 375 acres of land in Tulsa for the second phase of its "Project Anthem" data center development. This planned phase would have been adjacent to the project's initial 340-acre first phase, which is slated to begin construction this spring. Combined, the two phases would have created a data center campus spanning more than 500 acres.

The withdrawal comes just one week after the Tulsa City Council approved a nine-month moratorium on new data center applications. However, city officials confirmed that Project Anthem's first and second phases were explicitly exempted from this temporary ban. Carson Colvin, a communications officer for the City of Tulsa, stated that Atmoss was “exploring options,” and noted that the second phase remains a future possibility.

First proposed and approved in 2024, Project Anthem represents one of the largest data center ventures in Oklahoma, a state where most facilities are concentrated around the capital, Oklahoma City, rather than Tulsa. The developer's decision to pause the expansion follows vocal opposition from some residents, who frequently cite concerns over environmental impact, high energy and water consumption, and potential effects on local property values.

The halt of this major phase underscores a broader industry challenge: securing social license to operate in non-traditional markets. While state and local governments often offer incentives to attract data center investments, project developers increasingly face detailed scrutiny and pushback at the community level, potentially altering the site selection landscape.

Source: datacenterdynamics