Luther Officials Warn Data Center Application May Be Coming Soon
Town Attorney: Expect a Permit Request Early Next Year
City leaders in the eastern Oklahoma town of Luther were recently told the town might still receive an application for construction of a data center. As The Luther Register reported, the notification came during a recent Luther Board of Trustees meeting.
“I would be surprised if you didn’t see some sort of application for a Specific Use Permit as well as an economic development agreement coming up after the first of the year,” said Beth Anne Childs, town attorney, during her monthly attorney report.
Beltline Energy’s Initial Proposal Resurfaces
It was last spring when Beltline Energy, an Atlanta-based firm, revealed interest in developing a data center on a 400-acre site east of the OG&E Redbud Power Plant. Company spokesman Ryan Sanders said at the time the project was in its early stages, and the Register reported it was “years away from realization.”
Now, the timeline appears to be accelerating. Luther City Attorney Childs indicated progress during the recent meeting.
Attorney: Beltline Legal Counsel Is Already Engaged
Childs said she has been in contact with Beltline Energy, which retained legal counsel with a metro law firm specializing in zoning issues.
“As soon as that information is provided, I will send it to you, and then we’ll also make that public so that everyone has a very clear picture as to what they’re proposing, if they elect to move forward. I have received inquiries about it and the law firm sent an email to the town manager, and so I’m keeping that on everyone’s radar,” reported the Register.
Months earlier, Beltline Energy stated it had 67 energy projects in operation, 11,300 acres under control, and provided 865 MW of energy to more than 50 communities.
Residents Raise Concerns Over Site Location
Some Luther residents have already questioned the location of the proposed data center, and several voiced early opposition. Mayor Terry Arps acknowledged growing concerns.
“I am aware of potential negative impacts this could have and will look into whether it’s possible to mitigate some of them or if it is possible to make them more tolerable,” he said. “I know that if this moves forward, and that decision isn’t mine, it has to do with the people looking into the possibility of a data center, then there will be public meetings, probably more than one, on this issue, and I’m sure that we’ll have just a gay old time at those meetings.”
As Luther awaits more details, community members and officials expect a potentially lively public process in the months ahead.
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