Protestors speak out against data centers as leaders participate in planning conference
Protesters gathered in downtown Topeka, Kansas, during a Data Center Planning Summit to voice their opposition to data centers, citing concerns about land and water usage by international companies. The summit, hosted by Kansas Municipal Utilities, aimed to educate local leaders on data center impacts, but some attendees felt it had a pro-development bias.
During a "Data Center Planning Summit" held at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka, Kansas, protesters gathered outside the Kansas Docking Building to voice strong opposition to data center developments. The summit, organized by Kansas Municipal Utilities (KMU), was intended to educate local county commissioners, lawmakers, and city officials on the impacts of data centers on communities. Greg DuMars, Deputy Director for KMU, stated the summit's purpose was to inform without advocating for or against data centers.
However, Meghan Ryan, founder of Protect Kansas, characterized the summit as a "timeshare pitch" to encourage local leaders to support data center projects, highlighting concerns about international companies acquiring Kansas land and water resources. Manessah Davidson, a Kansas mother and protester, also criticized the meeting's closed-door nature. Zach Pistora of the Kansas Sierra Club, who attended the summit, observed a "slight bias towards building out data centers," noting sentiments like "data centers are a homerun for Kansas," which he felt undermined community concerns.