PULASKI COUNTY — Emails obtained through an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request show Pulaski County Justice of the Peace Dianne Curry consulted with an Entergy Arkansas executive, John Bethel, while drafting an ordinance that would pause data center development in the county for 12 months but explicitly exempt the AVAIO data center project.
What the records show
The records, released to the public following a records request, document back-and-forth communication between Curry and Bethel during the ordinance’s drafting. The proposed ordinance would have imposed a 12-month moratorium on new data center projects in Pulaski County while excluding the AVAIO project from that pause.
The correspondence raises concerns among some residents and officials about a utility executive’s participation in shaping county land-use policy, particularly when one project was to be carved out of the moratorium.
- Action proposed: 12-month moratorium on data center development in Pulaski County.
- Exemption included: AVAIO data center project would not be subject to the pause.
- Outside involvement: Entergy Arkansas executive consulted during drafting.
Why it matters
Data centers are large power consumers and can pose questions for local infrastructure, permitting and long-term planning. County moratoria are commonly used by local governments to temporarily halt certain development while officials study impacts or update regulations.
Engagement by a utility official in drafting such an ordinance is noteworthy because utilities are stakeholders in how energy-intensive developments are sited and permitted. For Pulaski County, decisions on data centers touch on land use, traffic, water and power planning, and potential economic benefits or disruptions for neighborhoods.
| Stakeholder | Role in records |
|---|---|
| Pulaski County | Considered ordinance to pause data center development for 12 months |
| Dianne Curry | Pulaski County Justice of the Peace; consulted Entergy executive while drafting ordinance |
| Entergy Arkansas | Utility whose executive advised on the ordinance draft |
| AVAIO | Data center project specifically exempted from the proposed moratorium |
Context and next steps
The records do not, on their face, show the extent of influence or whether Entergy sought specific regulatory outcomes beyond technical input. County officials typically balance input from utilities, developers and residents when considering moratoria. However, transparency and disclosure of outside assistance are often central to public trust in land-use decisions.
Pulaski County leaders must decide whether to move forward with a moratorium, modify the proposed language or continue with existing permitting processes. The exemption for AVAIO also may prompt questions from other developers and community members about equal treatment and the criteria behind the carve-out.
Residents seeking more information can review the FOIA-produced emails and monitor upcoming county meetings where the ordinance or related planning measures may be discussed.
The correspondence adds Pulaski County to a growing list of localities wrestling with how best to regulate data centers, a sector that has expanded rapidly across Arkansas and the broader Southeast in recent years. The issue will remain significant for county infrastructure planning, economic development strategies and utility coordination.
Reporting will continue as county officials respond to the records and as any ordinance moves through the legislative process.
