Ottawa Voters Approve Ten Year Data Center Moratorium

Nov 11, 2026
Voters in Ottawa, Kansas, approved a ten year moratorium on data centers requiring more than 25MW of capacity. The measure received 71.85 percent support.

Voters in the City of Ottawa, Kansas approved a ten year moratorium on data centers with more than 25MW of capacity, according to Data Center Dynamics. The ordinance received support from 71.85 percent of voters during the 2026 midterm elections.

The campaign followed a proposal for a 450MW data center and natural gas power plant at the 300 acre Proximity Park site. The city had agreed to sell the land to Lightfield Energy LLC, but officials ended the sale agreement in September after the parties failed to reach a development agreement.

Voters in Emporia and El Dorado, Kansas, also approved data center moratoriums during the elections. More than 40 similar measures passed across the United States.

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