Kearney OKs first step to bring data center to town
Kearney Planning Commission has approved the first steps, including a conditional use permit and rezoning, for Project Horizon, a data center development by Mara and Starwood Digital Ventures. Residents expressed concerns about water use, noise, and electricity, prompting the city to propose new data center regulations. The project will now proceed to the Kearney City Council for further consideration.
The Kearney Planning Commission has given its initial approval for "Project Horizon," a large, multi-lot data center development aimed at transforming a long-running crypto mining operation in the Tech One Boulevard area. The commission approved a conditional use permit and rezoning for the site, marking a significant step forward for the project led by Mara and Starwood Digital Ventures. This decision, announced by Chairman David Malone, follows extensive collaboration with entities including the Nebraska Public Power District, Two Rivers Health Department, and the city of Kearney.
City Manager Brenda Jensen highlighted several potential benefits for Kearney, including an expected community benefit agreement, tax revenue generation, and a 12.5% lease payment to the NPPD. She emphasized the state's regulation requiring community benefit agreements for data centers, indicating efforts to identify ways to give back through organizations like Kearney Public Schools and Hot Meals USA.
During a public hearing, residents voiced concerns about the data center's potential impact, specifically regarding water usage, noise levels, and electricity costs. Kearney resident Jakob Vohnout Larchick questioned the project's water demands and whether the new facility would be quieter than the existing crypto site. Project representatives estimated the fully operational facility could use 2 million to 5 million gallons of water annually, while initially taking over 100 megawatts of power, with a final demand of 368 megawatts.
In response to public concerns and as part of broader planning, the city is developing ten pages of supplemental data center regulations addressing water, energy, light, and sound. These proposed amendments would require feasibility studies, annual reporting, sound levels below 55 dBA, and 1,000-foot setbacks. Importantly, the city stated that Project Horizon already complies with these proposed amendments. The project's next key step is a public hearing before the Kearney City Council on September 8, where both the data center project and the proposed amendments will be considered.