Oklahoma public officials in some communities have signed confidentiality agreements with data center developers for months, and in one case, a year, before projects have become public.
An investigation by The Frontier showed how officials in some cities arranged one-on-one briefings to avoid public meeting requirements after signing confidentiality deals. In other instances, city officials have voted to approve contracts and land annexations without telling the public about plans for data centers.
Some attorneys have called such agreements with public officials on matters of economic development “unenforceable,” and one assistant district attorney in Wagoner County cautioned public officials against signing such deals. Here’s a look at the terms of some of the non-disclosure agreements.
City: Coweta
Developer: IPI Management LLC (later known as Beale Infrastructure)
Date signed: May 20, 2024
Who signed: City Manager Julie Casteen
Date data center announced: Oct. 22, 2025
What’s secret: Both parties agree to keep each other’s confidential information secret. All information provided is confidential, regardless of whether it is identified as such at the time of disclosure. The existence of the agreement itself is also considered confidential. Other than legal counsel, any other person privy to the information must also sign a non-disclosure agreement. Confidential information must be destroyed on request of the disclosing party.
Penalties for noncompliance: The agreement allows the parties to seek a court order to halt the disclosure of confidential information and award monetary damages if the agreement is breached.
Time period: No expiration date
Read the full contract
City: Coweta
Developer: Beale Infrastructure
Date signed: Sept. 3, 2025
Who signed: Mayor Naomi Hogue and Vice-Mayor Jeremy Barnett
Date center announced: Oct. 22, 2025
What’s secret: Hogue and Barnett were prohibited from sharing confidential information provided by the company. Any other person who becomes privy to the information for evaluation purposes must also sign a non-disclosure agreement. The recipients are prohibited from disclosing that any investigations, discussions or negotiations about a possible transaction are taking place or that any confidential information has been requested or received. The existence of the non-disclosure agreement itself is considered confidential information, as well as “any other facts” related to the project.
Penalties for noncompliance: The agreement allows the parties to seek a court order to halt the disclosure of confidential information and award monetary damages if the agreement is breached.
Time period: The agreement expires when a definitive agreement is reached with its own set of confidentiality requirements, or two years after the last disclosure of confidential information. City officials are required to keep information confidential for five years.
Read the full contract
City: Sand Springs
Developer: Google
Date signed: Oct. 8, 2025
Who signed: City Manager Michael Carter
Data center announced: Nov. 10, 2025
What’s secret: The confidentiality agreement covers trade secrets, financial, technical and business information and the terms of any agreements entered into by the parties. The contract acknowledges that information is subject to the Oklahoma Open Records Act, but requires the city to inform the company when it receives a request for records. The agreement is governed by the laws of Oklahoma and legal disputes are required to be handled in state or federal court in Tulsa.
Penalties for noncompliance: Court injunction “in addition to all other remedies” available to the injured party
Time period: Five years
Read the full contract
City: Yukon
Developer: Beltline
Date signed: May 12, 2025
Who signed: City Manager Mike Castro
Data center announced: Aug. 22, 2025
What’s secret: The agreement defines confidential information as “future business plans; finance information; market information; sales information; terms or proposed terms of any proposed transaction between or involving the Parties; and technical information” related to the project.
Penalties for noncompliance: None listed
Time Period: Two years
Read the full contract
City: Claremore
Developer: IPI Management/Beale Infrastructure
Date signed: Feb. 16, 2024
Who signed: City Manager John Feary, Claremore Industrial and Economic Development Authority Executive Director Meggie Froeman-Knight
Data center announced: Jan. 5, 2026
What’s secret: All information provided to the city by the developer, including information in written, graphic, electronic or oral form, whether or not the information is marked confidential at the time of disclosure. The nondisclosure agreement itself is also considered confidential.
Penalties for noncompliance: Both parties agree to waive a jury trial in any legal proceeding or action related to the agreement. Monetary penalties as well as the right to seek specific performance and other injunctive and equitable relief from a court.
Time Period: Two years.
Read the full contract.
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Clifton joined The Frontier in April 2017. A native of southeastern Oklahoma, he covers numerous issues from criminal justice, energy, the environment and politics. Clifton holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma.
Email him at clifton@readfrontier.com.
