Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Ordinance 158 — Data Center Moratorium
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians · EBCI Ordinance No. 158, Cherokee Code ch. 47E (May 7, 2026)
Indefinite moratorium on data center development on the Qualla Boundary. Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) voted 11-0 to amend the Cherokee Code Chapter 47E, finding that high-impact digital infrastructure 'presents a clear and present danger to the lands and people' of the EBCI.
Technical detail
EBCI Ordinance No. 158 (2026), Cherokee Code ch. 47E, adopted May 7, 2026 by 11-0 Dinilawigi vote. Bars data-center development on the Qualla Boundary indefinitely; codifies finding that high-impact digital infrastructure presents a clear and present danger to EBCI lands and people.
Who is protected: EBCI tribal members and the Qualla Boundary
Who must comply: Anyone seeking data-center development on EBCI lands
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Stronger protection |
| Effective date | 2026-05-07 |
| Enacted | 2026-05-07 |
| Citation | EBCI Ordinance No. 158, Cherokee Code ch. 47E (May 7, 2026) |
| Enforced by | Dinilawigi (EBCI Tribal Council) / EBCI Office of the Attorney General |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Per Cherokee Code enforcement provisions |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI |
| Last verified | 2026-08-08 |
| Official source | Dinilawigi approves indefinite moratorium on data centers — Cherokee One Feather ↗ |
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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