Local Control Protection Act

Summary#

This bill, the Local Control Protection Act, says local governments can block large data center projects and limits federal actions that would override those local zoning decisions. It also makes federal tax credits for data centers conditional on a publicly filed, legally enforceable community benefit agreement with the local chief executive. The agreement must cover local tax responsibilities, road, water, stormwater, and utility impacts, environmental and noise monitoring, and include a Local Workforce Utilization Plan. That plan must show efforts to hire locally first, list partnerships with apprenticeship and training programs, prefer qualified local contractors, be publicly filed, and be updated each year during construction. The bill defines a "covered data center" as a single data center with 20 megawatts or more of power demand or a group of facilities under common control that together meet that threshold.

What it means for you#

• Local officials: If your local government votes on record and issues written findings to deny a covered data center, federal courts cannot hear challenges to that denial under this bill. Federal agencies also may not grant permits for a covered data center if the developer is suing to overturn that local denial.
• Developers and operators: To qualify for federal tax credits you must file and make public a signed, enforceable community benefit agreement with the local chief executive that includes the required mitigation, monitoring, and workforce provisions. If you sue a local zoning denial, federal permits may be withheld.
• Federal agencies: Agencies are barred from approving permits for a covered data center when the project owner is pursuing a legal challenge to a local zoning denial adopted by recorded vote with findings.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs, budgetary effects, or estimated fiscal impacts is included in the bill text or metadata provided.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information on proponents' stated views or intended benefits is included in the bill text or metadata provided.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opponents' stated objections or concerns is included in the bill text or metadata provided.