Kewanee Mayor Urges Research on Data Center Impacts for Future Planning
Kewanee Mayor Gary Moore has urged the City Council and residents to research the potential impacts of data centers, both positive and negative, in preparation for any future development proposals. While no data center is currently planned for the area, Moore wants the community to be informed about issues like water and electricity consumption, and job creation. The council plans a future meeting to discuss their findings.
Kewanee Mayor Gary Moore has initiated a community-wide effort to research the potential impacts of data centers, despite there being no immediate plans for such a facility in or near Kewanee. Moore, addressing the City Council at a recent meeting, encouraged council members to investigate the positive and negative effects data centers have on communities, including concerns about water for cooling, electricity demands that could affect residents' power bills, and groundwater impacts. He also noted the potential for job creation and other community benefits.
Mayor Moore extended his call for research beyond the council, inviting all interested Kewaneeans to study data centers and how other communities have responded to them. He emphasized the importance of being "armed with the facts" should residents wish to share their views with the council. A future City Council meeting is planned where members will share their learned information, preparing the community to respond effectively if a data center proposal emerges.