Oklahoma
Oklahoma is among the most active 2026 states: six-plus municipal moratoria (Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Edmond, Broken Arrow, Luther, Norman) plus the Seminole Nation, a signed statewide ratepayer law (HB 2992, effective July 1), and a pending three-year state moratorium bill (SB 1488), all amid a Google-project fight that spawned a (failed) Sand Springs recall (Journal Record — Norman 6th city, OK House — HB 2992 signed).
ILens Signals
Civic/Governance Barriers activates on moratorium-class action (C1), meaningful 2026 race (C3), litigation/recall pathway (C4) — governance instruments on the electoral, legislative, and regulatory surface (protocol §10; Overview Civic breakout). Capital Flows is a dominant stressor: HB 2992 is a statute-only ratepayer regime (no PUC tariff layer, 75 MW threshold) explicitly barring cost-shifts and adding a novel 60-day pre-acquisition land-notice trigger — Cliff calls Oklahoma 'the cleanest version' of state ratepayer protection — squarely a cost-allocation/insurability matter (Cliff, OCC). Energy/Power (75 MW large-load tariffs at OG&E/PSO, grid demand) and Water/Geology (SB 1488's water-supply study focus; municipal water/power concerns cited in every moratorium hearing) are also central (KGOU, Radio Oklahoma).
IIKey 2026 Races
Yes. In Sand Springs (Tulsa metro), a recall targeting the entire city council over Google's 'Project Spring' data center went to a vote and failed on May 1, 2026 (NBC News, Tulsa Flyer — recall fails). Data centers also entered a statewide race: HB 2992 author Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) is running for a seat on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, campaigning on ratepayer protection (KGOU).
IIIMoratorium · Ban Status
No statewide moratorium enacted; SB 1488 (a ~3-year moratorium on new data-center construction through Nov. 1, 2029, directing the Corporation Commission to study water/rates/property values/siting) was reintroduced in late June 2026 and remains pending (DCD — SB 1488, Rockefeller Institute). Local moratoria are extensive and confirmed: Oklahoma City (unanimous, through Dec. 31, 2026; council later voted 7-2 to exempt facilities ≤75 MW) (Native News Online, Radio Oklahoma); Tulsa (unanimous, 9-month pause, Mar. 25, 2026, exempting Project Anthem Phases 1-2) (Tulsa Flyer); Edmond (5-0, through Dec. 31, 2026) (Journal Record); Broken Arrow (unanimous, 6 months) (OK Energy Today); Luther (unanimous 6-month, through Dec. 31, delaying Beltline Energy) (Journal Record); Norman (unanimous 1-year, through June 9, 2027 — the sixth Oklahoma municipality) (Journal Record); plus an indefinite Seminole Nation moratorium (Journal Record — Luther).
IVRatepayer · Cost-Shift Legislation
Yes — enacted. HB 2992, the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026 (author Rep. Brad Boles, co-author Sen. Grant Green; ~36 bipartisan co-authors; Senate passed 46-0), was signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt on May 11, 2026 and took effect July 1, 2026 (codified at 17 O.S. §§ 900-906). It defines 'large load customers' as new data centers/crypto/AI facilities adding 75 MW+ after July 1, 2026, requires them to bear their full infrastructure costs (no cost-shift to residential/commercial/ag/industrial ratepayers), mandates a 10-year service commitment, and requires 60-day pre-acquisition notice by certified mail to the Corporation Commission, county commissioners and abutting landowners (OK House, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, KGOU).
VBallot Measures
None identified. No Oklahoma Nov. 2026 state or local data-center ballot measure was identified (the Sand Springs recall was a petition/recall effort, not a Nov. 2026 statewide measure).
VITop Contested Sites
Google 'Project Spring' (Sand Springs, ~827 acres, Tulsa metro): approved by Sand Springs council Feb. 2026 over heavy opposition, triggering a recall (failed May 1) and litigation moved to Tulsa County (NBC News, Tulsa Flyer). Project Anthem (east Tulsa, exempted Phases 1-2) and Project Clydesdale (north Tulsa, under construction) (Tulsa Flyer). Beltline Energy's ~320-acre Luther proposal (delayed by the Luther moratorium) (Journal Record).
VIITalent · Workforce
Not a leading Oklahoma stressor in 2026; the fight centered on ratepayer cost, moratoria, water and Indigenous/land concerns rather than labor organizing or jobs-delivered disputes.
VIIIData Center Cluster Size
Growing, metro-concentrated across the OKC and Tulsa regions (Google Sand Springs 'Project Spring,' Tulsa's Project Anthem/Clydesdale, plus proposals in Luther, Edmond, Broken Arrow, Coweta, Yukon) (Radio Oklahoma, Tulsa Flyer).
IXKey Quote
"I am proud that Oklahomans will not be forced to subsidize the infrastructure needs of massive data centers and other large-scale energy users while still allowing our state to grow responsibly." — Rep. Brad Boles (KGOU).