Little Rock, Arkansas – A growing debate over the future of large-scale digital infrastructure is unfolding in Pulaski County, where a proposed data center project in a rural area has sparked new calls for tighter local oversight. At the center of the discussion is Democratic candidate for county judge Wendell Griffen, who is urging officials to adopt clearer rules on how such facilities should be planned and regulated.
The push comes after the Arkansas Data Centers Act was passed in 2023, a law that supporters say helped encourage investment in high-tech infrastructure. However, Griffen argues that since its passage, local governments have been left without sufficient guidance on land use planning when it comes to data center development, particularly in unincorporated parts of the county.
A new data center proposal in rural Pulaski County has intensified those concerns. Griffen says the scale and impact of such facilities require a more structured approach, especially as they continue to expand into areas not traditionally used for heavy industrial development. His proposal seeks to classify what he calls high-intensity digital infrastructure as functionally similar to heavy industry.
“The Pulaski County quorum court has local legislative authority under state law to regulate land use and development in unincorporated areas to protect public health, safety, and welfare,” Griffen said.
According to Griffen, the issue is not about stopping development, but about ensuring that it happens responsibly. He points to potential impacts on public health, water supplies, and electrical infrastructure as key reasons for formal regulation. His proposal would require that data centers be located and built in a way that aligns with existing infrastructure capacity, similar to other heavy industrial uses.
“These are legitimate reasons to establish and to publish land use planning and development policy that recognizes high-density digital infrastructure facilities as being functionally comparable to heavy industrial land uses and to regulate those facilities,” Griffen said.
Under his plan, data centers would still be allowed in the county, but only under stricter guidelines. Facilities would need to be designed and operated with consideration for environmental and community impacts, particularly in rural areas where infrastructure is more limited.
“My proposal does not prohibit high-intensity digital infrastructure uses or facilities but explains why they should be treated as heavy industry and should be located, designed, constructed, and operated in a manner that is in harmony with the public health, safety, and welfare,” Griffen said.
Environmental concerns have also become part of the discussion. Griffen and others warn that large data centers can place significant pressure on local water systems and electricity demand, especially in areas not built to support industrial-scale operations. Emergency services are another concern, particularly in rural communities where volunteer fire departments are often the primary responders.
“These kinds of high-intensity digital infrastructure uses are located in unincorporated areas, rural areas, what’s in rural areas? Rural fire departments they’re volunteer fire departments. The available water to address the known and foreseeable fire hazards from these facilities is going to be affected. The aquifers are going to be affected,” Griffen said.
The debate is now moving toward the county’s legislative body. Griffen said he has already spoken with members of the Pulaski County Quorum Court, encouraging them to consider formal action on the issue. At the same time, state-level discussions are also underway that could influence how future developments are handled.
Senate Resolution 10, currently under consideration at the state Capitol, could open the door to amendments to the Arkansas Data Centers Act. If approved, it would potentially introduce state oversight, licensing requirements, and new compliance costs for developers operating in Arkansas.
Supporters of greater regulation argue that the rapid expansion of data infrastructure requires updated policies that reflect its environmental and logistical footprint. They say planning now could help prevent long-term strain on rural communities and essential services.
Opponents of stricter rules, however, often emphasize economic growth and technological investment, noting that data centers bring jobs, tax revenue, and infrastructure development to areas that may otherwise see limited investment.
For now, Pulaski County finds itself at the center of a broader conversation playing out across the state—how to balance innovation and economic opportunity with environmental protection and local control. As lawmakers, candidates, and residents weigh in, the outcome could shape how Arkansas manages the next wave of digital infrastructure growth.
