Daily Digest — April 14, 2026
Festus Developer Vows to Defend $6 Billion Data Center Amid Lawsuit and Council Shakeup
Developer Bob Clark, founder of Clayco and principal partner in CRG, held a press conference affirming that the proposed $6 billion data center in Festus, Missouri, will proceed despite a community lawsuit and the recent ouster of four city council members, according to KSDK. Clark asserted that CRG's development rights are "vested" following the project's approval last month and stated the company will "aggressively defend" them in court.
The lawsuit, filed April 8 in St. Louis County Circuit Court by Wake Up Jeffco LLC and four residents, alleges 12 counts including unlawful spot zoning, civil conspiracy, and violations of Missouri's Sunshine Law, as reported by KSDK. Text messages submitted as evidence allegedly show city officials discussing strategies to avoid public scrutiny. Plaintiffs contend the public received insufficient notice for a vote on the 29-page Infrastructure Development Agreement, which the prior council approved 6-2.
Residents have raised concerns about the data center's impact on local water supplies, with the development agreement allowing CRG to drill private wells drawing from the same aquifer that serves nearby homes, according to KMOV. Over 300 residents have filed complaints requesting independent hydrogeological studies. Clark stated he could not answer the "engineering question" about effects on neighbors' wells but pledged discharged water would be as clean as intake water.
Four new council members — Karl Weekley, Allen McCarthy, Dan Moore, and Rick Belleville — were sworn in to cheers from data center opponents, as reported by FOX 2 St. Louis. Clark indicated he intends to meet with each new member and stated CRG would not "barge into the community." New Councilmember Dan Moore stated the community's disapproval is clear. Clark projected the first phase operational by 2028, with an estimated $40 million in new annual revenue for Festus.
Clark also commented on other regional developments, expressing disengagement from a proposed data center in Midtown St. Louis, citing the city's "dysfunctional charter" and "dysfunctional board of Aldermen," according to Spectrum News.
Illinois POWER Act Gains Bipartisan Poll Support as Negotiations Stall
A statewide poll of 800 likely Illinois voters conducted in March found nearly 70% support for the proposed POWER Act (Protecting Our Water, Energy, and Ratepayers Act), rising to 75% with additional details, according to WAND-TV. Support spans party lines, including Independents and Republicans, and extends to voters outside the Chicagoland area.
The POWER Act, sponsored by State Representative Robyn Gabel and State Senator Ram Villivalam, would impose stricter regulations on data center operations in Illinois, as reported by WGLT. Key provisions include:
- Mandating water use disclosure and assessing cooling alternatives
- Requiring high-efficiency cooling systems with oversight from the Illinois State Water Survey
- Prohibiting non-disclosure agreements between data centers and local governments or utilities
- Creating an industry-funded public benefits fund
- Mandating community benefit agreements with public input
The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition and NRDC cited data showing that while data centers represent 1% of ComEd's electricity demand, they contributed to a 595% capacity cost increase for ComEd customers, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Governor JB Pritzker has separately called for a two-year pause on new tax credits for data centers. State Senator Chapin Rose introduced a bill to ban data centers from using Mahomet Aquifer water.
Industry groups including the Data Center Coalition oppose the measures as overly restrictive, arguing the POWER Act and proposed tax credit pause would stifle investment and economic growth, as reported by WGLT. Despite committee hearings, formal negotiations on the bill have yet to begin in earnest.
Negotiations over data center legislation have yet to ramp up as environmental groups cite favorable poll
WGLT
Illinois residents weigh concerns over data centers' impact on energy and water
FOX 32 Chicago
Poll shows strong bipartisan support for Illinois POWER Act
wandtv.com
New poll finds Illinoisans support regulations for data centers
The State Journal-Register
Illinois voters back plan to shift data center energy costs, poll finds
FOX 32 Chicago
Archbald Residents Continue Opposition to Wildcat Ridge Data Center
Residents of Archbald, Pennsylvania, continued to voice fierce opposition to the proposed Wildcat Ridge Data Center at a recent conditional use hearing, according to WNEP. The project proposes 14 buildings on nearly 600 acres above Route 247. Residents returned developer-distributed promotional mailers at the start of the meeting, labeling them "propaganda," as reported by 28/22 News.
Concerns raised at the hearing included potential health impacts, with one resident citing cancer cases in the area and fearing additional carcinogen exposure, per WNEP. Traffic on Wildcat Road was also a focus, though developers maintain the impact would be "negligible." Current and former county officials, including Lackawanna County Controller Gary DiBileo and former Judge Thomas Munley, called for either a moratorium on data center development or a public vote on the project.
The Archbald Borough Council indicated a vote to approve or deny the project is at least a couple more meetings away. A fourth hearing is scheduled for May 14 at Valley View High School.
Pima County Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Project Blue Rezoning
Pima County Superior Court Judge Brenden Griffin dismissed a lawsuit filed by the No Desert Data Center Coalition against Pima County and its Planning and Zoning Commission, according to AZPM News. The lawsuit sought to invalidate the rezoning of nearly 300 acres for a proposed data center known as Project Blue, alleging the county deceived the public and violated state open meeting laws by not disclosing the data center's purpose in agenda items.
Judge Griffin ruled the county did not violate open meeting law, despite staff not fully disclosing the rezoning's purpose. Jared Keenan of the Arizona Center for Law and the Public Interest expressed disappointment, as reported by KJZZ. The No Desert Data Center Coalition plans to appeal, with attorneys preparing to file a notice of appeal within 30 days.
The Project Blue data center remains contentious in the region, particularly over water usage concerns. Tucson city leaders, including Mayor Regina Romero and the City Council, have previously voted to block Project Blue, citing public backlash over water needs, according to KJZZ.
Indianapolis Residents Seek Judicial Review of Sabey Data Center Zoning Approval
Residents of Decatur Township in Indianapolis are fundraising to file a judicial review challenging the Metropolitan Development Commission's March 18 approval of two zoning variances for a 1.1 million-square-foot Sabey Data Centers facility, according to Mirror Indy. The project, planned near Camby Road and Kentucky Avenue, would be the city's first hyperscale data center.
Sabey's legal team presented studies from an appraiser, a George Mason University researcher, and Integra Realty Resources arguing the project would not negatively affect residential property values. Opponents, including the Decatur Township Civic Council and grassroots group Protect Decatur Township, contend the studies have significant limitations — noting the Northern Virginia study reflects a unique housing market and the Indiana-focused study showed mixed results across counties.
Residents are seeking to raise $2,000 by April 17 to file the judicial review, citing concerns about water contamination, noise pollution, and property values.
