The Data Center Divide
A policy snapshot ahead of the 2026 midterms. Mapping data center incentives, restrictions, and bans through legislation, regulations, and executive actions across all 50 states and 1,462 local jurisdictions.
City of Springfield
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Neutral Data Center Policies
Springfield has enacted a pause on most applications to build, expand, or service data centers until November 17, 2026, though the City Council may allow limited exceptions.
Rating from Missouri statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for City of Springfield.
current law · City of SpringfieldTemporarily prohibits Springfield from accepting or processing most data-center-related applications through November 17, 2026, with limited exceptions.City of Springfield 120-day Data Center Application Moratorium (2026)
What this means
The measure would pause most applications to build, expand, or service data centers until November 17, 2026, creating a substantial short-term barrier. The City Council could allow an application to proceed in limited circumstances, but the pause could still delay projects while the city develops rules.
Timing
- Ends
- Nov 17, 2026
The ordinance’s application-processing delay ends on this date. An application may continue to be processed as necessary to meet Southwest Power Pool study requirements if the stated conditions are met. The article separately describes a proposed extension, not an extension established by this ordinance.
People behind it
- Schrag
Listed as the sponsor of the ordinance.
- City Manager
Directed by the ordinance to oversee staff review and public input and prepare a report with recommended actions.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements4
Until November 17, 2026, the City and Board of Public Utilities may not accept or process applications concerning the evaluation, establishment, servicing, or expansion of a data center. This covers, among other things, building permits, site-plan reviews, variances, utility service, and large-load electric applications.
The application pause has a limited utility-study exception: if Southwest Power Pool studies have begun and the applicant has submitted the required fees and large-load electric application to the Board of Public Utilities, processing may continue only as needed to fulfill SPP’s study requirements.
The City Council may authorize processing by resolution only if it finds the application complies with existing and foreseeable planned city regulations, adequate infrastructure exists or will exist when the project is complete, and processing would not, in the Council’s sole discretion, harm the city’s health, safety, or general welfare.
The ordinance’s coverage depends on its definition of a data center’s “primary use”: digital-data systems meet that definition if expected peak electricity demand exceeds 5 MW, they use at least 50% of the development’s electricity, or they occupy at least 50% of the facility’s square footage. Vacant or warehouse/storage space is counted toward the data-center area when applying the square-footage test.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions2
The Council may allow an application to be processed during the delay by resolution, if it finds the project complies with existing and foreseeable planned regulations, adequate infrastructure exists or will exist when the project is completed, and the project is not otherwise detrimental to the City’s health, safety, and general welfare. Council may allow processing
A large-load electric-service application may continue to be processed to the extent needed for Southwest Power Pool studies, but only if the SPP has begun studies for the proposed facility and the applicant has submitted the required fees with the application. SPP study exception
Sources
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