HPL Data Center Monthly Newsletter - August 2026

The Statehouse Era of Data Center Development & Advancement

Inside the Data Center Industry | July Recap

Every month, we track the stories shaping public opinion around the data center industry. July showed that the conversation has shifted dramatically in three important ways:

• Influence is moving upstream from local hearings to governors, regulators and state legislatures.
• Narratives are moving faster than individual projects, with public opinion increasingly shaped before communities hear from developers.
• Stakeholders are multiplying and pulling the industry into broader debates

For communications teams, that changes the playbook. Reputation is increasingly established before a project enters the permitting process and is making early narrative development as important as community engagement itself.

Below are the stories we think matter most this month, and why.

INTRODUCING THE HPL NARRATIVE RISK DASHBOARD

Stats of the Month

• New York became the first state in the nation to enact a statewide data center moratorium, with Gov. Hochul's executive order pausing new large-scale permits for at least a year.
• 11 states now sit above 50% negative sentiment, led by Wyoming (88.8%), Kansas (87.2%), and Massachusetts (81.2%).
• 172 active local moratoriums are on the books nationwide right now, spanning cities, counties, and townships
  

Explore the data here: https://www.hotpaperlantern.com/data-center-narrative

If you'd like a walkthrough of what the data means for your markets or upcoming projects, we'd be happy to schedule a conversation.

→ See how your project  is trending -- book 15 minutes with our team

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING

New York to impose the country’s first statewide moratorium on data centers

NBC News · July 14, 2026

What do I need to know?  

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order pausing state permits for new hyperscale data centers for up to a year, giving regulators time to set standards on energy, water, and grid impact. Her Republican opponent opposes it; a union called it a jobs killer.

Why does this matter?

It's the first time a governor has used executive power to freeze data center growth statewide and it's happening in the middle of a competitive governor race built around affordability. Other governors, like Maine's Mills and Virginia's Spanberger, stopped short of this. New York didn't.

Erin Brockovich | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #670

Theo Von Podcast (This Past Weekend) · July 2026

What do I need to know?  

Theo Von recently hosted Erin Brockovich for a nearly 90-minute conversation focused almost entirely on data centers. Brockovich discussed her crowdsourced reporting platform, which she says has received more than 12,000 submissions from residents across 11 countries, covering topics including water usage, noise, NDAs and broader community concerns.

Why does this matter?  

Nearly half a million people have already watched the episode on YouTube alone. For many, this was likely their first meaningful introduction to data centers.

First impressions are hard to change. Listeners are deciding whether the industry feels trustworthy and Brockovich fills the role of a community advocate asking the same questions many residents will echo if a project were proposed in their own backyard. Podcasts, creators and social media are increasingly shaping perceptions before a project is ever announced, often treating every data center as fundamentally the same regardless of location, operator or project specifics.

Pittsylvania Supervisors Back $100B Berry Hill Data Center Project

WSET · July 22, 2026

What do I need to know?  

The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors voted to support a proposed $100 billion data center campus at Berry Hill Industrial Park, projected to bring roughly 2,500 jobs over the next two decades. The vote came despite vocal resident opposition and follows a similar approval in the region earlier this year that county leaders say learned from the permitting mistakes made in Loudoun and Prince William counties.

Why does this matter?  

This is a rare data point of a board moving forward on a mega-project in the current environment rather than pausing or pulling back. County officials framed it explicitly as a lesson learned from neighboring Virginia counties that let development get ahead of residential planning.  

IF ANY OF THIS HITS CLOSE TO HOME, THAT'S THE POINT..

We work with operators and utilities navigating exactly these dynamics, market by market. If you want to talk through what July's shifts mean for your specific project or state, grab 15 minutes below. No pitch, just a working session on your market's risk profile.

BOOK A MEETING

Oregon approves PGE’s 29.7% rate hike for data centers under landmark law

Oregon Public Broadcasting · July 7, 2026

What do I need to know?  

The Oregon PUC unanimously approved a 29.7% rate increase for Portland General Electric customers using over 20 MW, including data centers, crypto miners, and large industrial users, while residential rates drop 1.3%.  

Why does this matter?  

This is a live template other states can and likely will copy: raise big users' rates, cut residents' bills, and let the governor campaign on it. Kotek is already using the vote on the trail.  

WORTH YOUR TIME

A New Foe Has Emerged for Data Centers: Farmers

The Wall Street Journal · July 11, 2026

The article examines growing opposition from farmers and ranchers, who argue data center development is competing with agriculture for land, water and electricity.  

China, Russia and Others Seek to Inflame Debate Over A.I. Data Centers

The New York Times · July 9, 2026

One of the more interesting reads this month. The reporting shows how data centers have become another front in global competition over AI, with foreign actors looking to amplify existing public concerns.

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