Governors address artificial intelligence and data center regulations in Oklahoma City
Governors gathered in Oklahoma City to discuss artificial intelligence and data center regulations, focusing on local economies, free market principles, and national standards
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Updated: 10:16 PM CDT Jul 30, 2026Editorial Standards ⓘ
Jason Burger
Reporter
Governors address artificial intelligence and data center regulations in Oklahoma City
Governors gathered in Oklahoma City to discuss artificial intelligence and data center regulations, focusing on local economies, free market principles, and national standards
Updated: 10:16 PM CDT Jul 30, 2026Editorial Standards ⓘ
Jason Burger
Reporter
OKLAHOMA CITY —
The National Governors Association meeting began Thursday in Oklahoma City, where more than a dozen governors convened to discuss artificial intelligence and data center regulations
Governors address AI, data center policies during National Governors Association meeting
Gov. Kevin Stitt, the NGA chairman, highlighted Oklahoma’s efforts to protect property owners through the Ratepayer Protection Plan, which prevents residential consumers from paying extra electrical fees if data centers are built. He also discussed closed water systems and strict permitting guidelines for data centers
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“All that new electricity generation cannot be spread out among consumers or residential customers; it has to be on these data centers,” Stitt said
Stitt spoke of his belief in free market principles, saying, “If a company buys land, and they follow all the rules, I’m not going to let one neighbor say you can’t do that on your land, when the next thing they’ll say is I don’t like your cattle ranch or chicken farm.”
When asked about local opposition to data center plans, Stitt said, “We’ve gotta let the free market meet the needs of Americans, and obviously follow all the rules and be protected, but we’re not going to pick winners and losers and say we don’t like that and we don’t like this.”
Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland, who spoke alongside Stitt, outlined requirements for big tech companies building data centers in his state
“They need to bring their own energy, and they need to pay for all their own upgrades; they cannot and will not ask taxpayers to pay for that,” Moore said
Moore also emphasized the importance of local economies, stating, “They have to hire local workers, and local economies have to benefit from it.”
He noted that local governments ultimately have the final say
WATCH: Gov. Kevin Stitt previews National Governors Association summer meeting in OKC
“If local jurisdictions don’t want them there, they cannot be there, so the data center companies cannot write the rules,” Moore said
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis also addressed artificial intelligence, calling for national laws and standards to ensure consistency across states
“This really should be done nationally. It’s not a good answer for 50 states to have 50 different standards. That hurts the innovation of our country and consumers,” Polis said
Oklahoma City currently has a temporary moratorium on large data centers, which is set to run through Dec. 31 of this year
The National Governors Association meetings wrap up on Saturday
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