Google Data Center Sparks Recall Effort in Oklahoma City

A proposed AI data center has ignited a heated debate in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, with residents seeking to recall city council members over concerns about transparency and community impact

Introduction to the Controversy

City Manager Mike Carter announced in early 2026 that Google was interested in building its newest AI data center on 827 acres of farmland just outside Sand Springs, a suburb of Tulsa with a population of 20,000. The project, known as Project Spring, was expected to bring jobs, money, and prosperity to the area. However, the announcement was met with resistance from a group of local residents, who argued that the public had been left in the dark throughout the process.

The Recall Effort

A group of residents, led by Kyle Schmidt, president of the Protect Sands Springs Alliance, filed a lawsuit and initiated a recall campaign against the entire City Council, including Mayor Jim Spoon. The recall effort is driven by concerns about the lack of transparency and the potential environmental and quality-of-life impacts of the data center. Schmidt and his team are collecting signatures for the recall campaign, which they believe is their only recourse. The group says it has roughly 50% of the nearly 5,000 signatures needed across the city's six wards by March 31 to get the recalls on the ballot.

National Trend

The recall effort in Sand Springs is part of a broader trend of communities pushing back against the construction of data centers. At least five recall efforts have targeted officials over their support for data centers since 2022. While none of these recalls have yet made it to the ballot, organizers in Sand Springs hope to be an exception. According to an analysis by Ballotpedia, about 12% of recall targets were removed from office nationwide last year. Shaun Bowler, a political science professor at the University of California, Riverside, notes that being able to rally voters around a common cause at the local level can work in recall organizers' favor.

Community Divisions

The debate over the data center has created divisions within the community. While some residents oppose the project, others support it, citing the potential economic benefits. A group called Sandites for a Strong Future has sent mailers to residents, urging them not to sign the recall petition and arguing that it would bring "Washington-style politics" to the city. Google has not responded to questions about the recall, but on its website, the company claims that the data center would occupy less than 10% of the land, provide tax revenue, and not strain the electrical grid or water supply. As the recall effort continues, the city of Sand Springs remains divided, with residents on both sides passionately arguing their positions.

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