NO DATA CENTER APPLICATION from Beltline Energy Expected by January Luther Board of Trustee Meeting

Six months later, Luther waits. Will the Georgia company apply for zoning permission to build a data center in the town limits in the eastern shadow of the OGE Red Bud Energy Plant? When and if it happens, three votes out of five are needed by the Luther Town Board of Trustees to make or break it, but not before several steps are taken to ensure the public is informed and can share their input. In December, trustees learned from the town attorney that Beltline Energy intended to proceed with its Special Use Permit zoning application, which was first publicly mentioned in May when company executives came to town. But there has not been an application filed, and hardly a word more from the company.

“The intent tonight is to introduce ourselves, answer any high-level questions there might be, tell you where we are in the development process, and quite frankly, get a feel for the city of Luther,” said Beltline Energy Managing Partner Ryan Sanders at that meeting in May. 

It’s been a frustratingly long six months 

Back then, so long ago, our questions ranged from “What is a data center?” to “Will this deplete our water supply, cause electric shortages and increase our bills?” Will it block out the stars and drown out the sounds of the country? Will it be a monstrosity left to ruin? Will they generate enough revenue to fix the broken infrastructure that besets the small town? Will they sweeten the deal with promises? Will they keep those promises? Those questions were acknowledged but not fully explained because it was “so early in the process.” 

Off they went and we still wonder about the water, the electricity, the footprint of what is planned for 400 acres near Triple X Road between Covell and Coffee Creek Roads, and “what’s in it for us.” 

It’s left us wondering if the potential of infusing an estimated 12 million extra dollars per year worth of franchise tax revenue into town coffers is worth the immeasurable cost to the community. Whether this Beltline proposal passes, another “have we got a deal for you” proposition will come. A large housing edition, another industrial site, let your imagination roam.

We know what we want

Updating the town codes and ordinances is long overdue. It’s not like the town hasn’t tried. In 2018, a grant-funded comprehensive plan derived from community surveys, meetings, and managed by a local committee and consulting firm cast a vision with action plans and pretty graphics. It is a must-read, especially nearly ten years later and before the current data center revolution. Back then, we wanted to keep it rural and focus retail, economic and community centers near downtown and Route 66. “Communities that do plan for growth allow themselves to be on the offensive,” the report said. Trouble is, the plan was basically shelved. Why? Volunteers burnout, lose elections, lose interest, change focus, move or retreat. It happens. 

In 2023, the town tried again, even contracting with a company to update the zoning code and calling for public input and help. Not a lot of movement there either. It happens. 

Here we are with no updated zoning code and a potential “economic development” pitch that Luther did not seek but teases at heavy dollar signs. We are on the defensive. In addition, there’s little guidance from state and federal regulators to manage this boom, leaving it to municipalities.

But even as the Luther code has not updated, a process exists and includes public input. The elected trustees can not outright say NO to any request, no matter the swell of community outcry (threats, insults, spread of misinformation, encouragement). The process must run its course – a process that includes a plan and public input. Whether it’s an industrial development on agricultural land, a large housing edition, or a lot split to add another home onto your property, the current codes apply. 

Can we trust the process? 

Here’s how the process goes for a zoning Special Use Permit within Luther town limits:

• An application must be filed at Town Hall.
• Staff reviews the application and collects fees.
• Public hearings for the Luther Planning Commission and Luther Board of Trustees must be scheduled and posted with at least  20 days’ advanced notice.
• Property owners within a 300′ radius of the outer edges of the property will be sent a notice in the mail through a mailing list certified by the Oklahoma County Assessor.
• The legal notice will be published in the Journal Record, Luther Register News, and the town website.
• Correspondence (emails, letters, etc) is collected to be reviewed by planning commissioners and trustees.
• Individuals may sign up to speak at the public hearings.
• After the public hearing, the planning commission may vote or table the issue. Their vote, when taken, serves as a non-binding recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
• The Board of Trustees also gets a hearing, is informed of the planning commission’s recommendation, and votes or tables the agenda item that could happen in a meeting following a public hearing or another posted meeting. 

On this project, the town has repeatedly said that there would be ample opportunity for public input. Whether it’s extra meetings or availability to have individual conversations with planning commissioners and trustees outside of a meeting, the willingness is there. If you see them at ball practice, games, or church, ask them. Email them. Their email addresses are on the town’s website, where you can also sign up for meeting notices. If you use their businesses, start a chat. 

Opposition Organizes

Opposition to the data center is loud and clear. Former Luther Mayor Jenni White, Teresa Poisson, and Rebecca Tatum held a meeting at the Luther Community Center Monday night about the data center and a separate project (not involving the Town of Luther but of significant concern to residents) to bring in new high-powered transmission lines from Piedmont to the OGE power plant in Luther. With flyers headlined with “Our Town is Under Attack” taped on mailboxes and on social media posts, their efforts drew a standing-room-only crowd of over 120.

There were lots of familiar faces of neighbors at the meeting (and it was good to catch up and say HI in person instead of on Facebook). Other attendees came from surrounding areas as far away as McCurtain County. There were also elected officials, including Luther Mayor Terry Arps and Rep. Jim Shaw, and members of the Luther Planning Commission. The meeting drew TV news cameras and candidates, including Robert Brooks, governor, Leslie Hellebuyck, HD 36, and Robert Trimble, SD 28. 

Legal action and pleas to become involved and let their voices be heard were discussed. 

What’s happening now?

But as for Beltline’s plans. We don’t know. There’s no application. If there’s a bright side to that heads up of six months ago, we’ve all had time to ruminate on information, instead of 20 days between an application and a hearing. Still, when and if that application is filed, it will be made public for review.

So we wait.

Our unanswered questions remain because there is no application. No doubt we all have heard data centers gobble up electricity and water, and threaten our “rural way of life.” Will this project do that?  Are they or are they not using wastewater to cool their machine learning machines that comes from an existing 11-mile pipeline linking Red Bud to an Oklahoma City water treatment plant on a closed loop? Is there enough capacity at OGE currently? Or are they taking from the same water supply where we get the water from our wells or the town’ water system? Will construction costs be passed on to ratepayers? Will the amount of energy needed cause outages at homes, farms, or businesses? Will the company make promises they won’t keep? We don’t know.

But are we also curious about their pitch of what an estimated $12 million a year (and whatever else Beltline might pitch or negotiate) could do for Luther? If the cost to the community is too great, then what else could be done? Another business? More support for what we have as in supporting local businesses? Could we use this situation to encourage more citizens to volunteer and help figure it out? Should we call it quits as a municipality? What then? 

A brief civics lesson

We are all asking questions, forming opinions, and digging in on the ones we have. The Board of Trustees will make the decision with input from all sides. The application, we hope, will provide answers and reveal plans when it’s filed. If it’s filed. Incidentally, not one of the current board members received a vote for (or against) them during the last two town elections. Carla Caruthers, Cindy Taylor, Terry Arps, and Jerrod Davis were elected outright in 2025, and Jeff Schwarzmeier was re-elected in 2023. Each of them filed for election or re-election for a seat on the board, but no one else filed, so they were elected automatically. The trustees vote among themselves to a mayor, currently Terry Arps. The mayor presides over meetings, represents the town on other boards and at meetings, and takes on additional responsibilities as their interest and time allow in their volunteer position. Each member of the board reviews agendas, sets agenda items, and has a vote on every action item. The Luther Planning Commission is made up of five appointed volunteers.

The January meetings of the Luther Planning Commission (Mon) and Board of Trustees (Tues) are January 12 and 13, 2026. Each meeting is at 7 pm at Town Hall, 108 S Main. Don’t expect an action item on the data center. But it might be mentioned, and each meeting offers an opportunity for citizen input (sign up as soon as you get there). If you haven’t signed up for those email notices yet (249 of you have),sign up here. 

Resources:

• Data Center opposition: Luther Under Attack and petition
• LRN Article explaining the controversial NDA
• 2018 Town of Luther Comprehensive Plan
• Town of Luther website (sign up for email in the green box in the footer of the front page, and find meeting agendas, minutes, ordinances, codes, etc)
• Article: This Land is Their Land
• Article: The Data Center Rush in Apalachia
• Article: Study Shows Who’s Falling Behind in AI Race
• Interview: Mitchell talks with State Rep. Amanda Clinton
• Additional data center articles from the Luther Register