$64 billion
in U.S. data center projects blocked or delayed by community oppositionM2
~200
community groups organized across 24+ statesM3
The map.
Each row below is a community that organized. Read across the outcome column — withdrawals, moratoria, ballot measures — to see what works.
NC · May 2026
Northampton County
Developer: Multiple developers
32-MONTH MORATORIUM
County Commissioners adopted a 32-month moratorium following community organizing led by activist Belinda Joyner; pro-moratorium petition presented with ~300 signatures.M10
NC · May 2026
Durham
Developer: Multiple developers
60-DAY MORATORIUM
Durham City Council adopted a 60-day project moratorium amid community pushback to allow time for stronger zoning and protections.M11
WI · 2026
Manitowoc County
Developer: Unspecified
MORATORIUM RECOMMENDED
County committee recommended a one-year permitting moratorium following community organizing.M12
WI · 2026
Port Washington
Developer: Cloverleaf → Vantage
BALLOT MEASURE PASSED
Voters approved a measure requiring voter approval for tax incentives on data-center projects after Cloverleaf assembled 1,900 acres and flipped the package to Vantage Data Centers for an $8B campus build.M13
WI · Jan 2026
Village of Greenleaf
Developer: Cloverleaf
CLOVERLEAF WITHDREW
Cloverleaf retracted after a single community meeting of approximately 100 residents organized in under a week.M14
MI · Oct 2025
Dundee Township
Developer: Cloverleaf
CLOVERLEAF WITHDREW
Village council voted to block water supply; Cloverleaf retracted the pre-development agreement within weeks. CDO acknowledged the company should have done more public communication and listening.M15
IL · Mar 2026
Edwardsville
Developer: Cloverleaf
EXPOSED & WITHDRAWN
Illinois Answers Project obtained ~24 emails via public records showing nearly a year of detailed Cloverleaf-Edwardsville discussions while officials told residents there was 'no formal proposal.' Project did not move forward.M16
IL · Feb 2026
Troy
Developer: Cloverleaf
MAYOR PROPOSED MORATORIUM
Triad High School cafeteria packed for a Cloverleaf information session; coalition Troy Residents for Responsible Growth organized opposition; mayor proposed a project moratorium at the next city council meeting.M17
AL · May 2026
Lowndes County
Developer: Cloverleaf
WHERE WE ARE
Project Red Clay — ~1,000 acres at U.S. 80 × AL 21, Burkville. Cloverleaf has not formally requested the abatement yet but is racing the HB399 January 1, 2027 deadline. Vice-Chair Farrior moved to deny any abatement; quorum was broken before the motion could be voted.M18
Different developers — same pattern.
Cloverleaf is not the only company running this playbook. Other major flashpoints in 2026:
Memphis, TN
Developer: xAI / MZX Tech
Major Clean Air Act lawsuit alleging unpermitted gas-turbine power plant in a historically Black neighborhood. Earthjustice and SELC representing the plaintiffs.
Hyperion / Louisiana
Developer: Meta
$27B AI data center campus drawing major local pushback over electricity rates, water, and Entergy financing structure.
North Carolina (statewide)
Developer: Multiple
Data-center opposition has flipped a 16-year primary incumbent (David Batts) and is reshaping NC politics.
What this means for Cloverleaf — and for Lowndes
Cloverleaf has six known projects, an undisclosed pipeline of 10–15 GW, and a documented pattern of withdrawing when communities organize.M50 Lowndes County has the receipts of every prior community to draw on. We are not the first to ask these questions. We have the advantage of going second.