Data center conditional use permit to be discussed by Kearney city council tonight
The Kearney City Council is set to discuss a conditional use permit for a 368 megawatt data center proposed by Worldwide Mission Critical. The council will also review proposed new regulations for data centers, which include extensive requirements for setbacks, noise, and utility infrastructure. The Planning Commission has already unanimously recommended approval of the data center's conditional use permit.
The Kearney City Council is scheduled to discuss a conditional use permit (CUP) for a 368-megawatt data center project, named Project Horizon, proposed by Worldwide Mission Critical. The facility is planned for a location east of Antelope Ave. and south of Tech One Blvd and Global Drive in Kearney, Nebraska. The proposed site is near an existing cryptocurrency mining operation and solar farm.
The data center will utilize closed-loop chilled water systems for cooling, requiring a one-time fill and then reusing the water. Its primary consumptive water use will be for landscaping, estimated at two million gallons per year, while the data center itself will use about 1,200 gallons per day, comparable to five residential homes. The Planning Commission previously voted unanimously to recommend the CUP's approval to the city council.
Alongside the data center's permit, the council will consider new data center regulations, which City Manager Brenda Jensen described as making data centers the most regulated industry in Kearney. These proposed amendments cover commercial use types, zoning district regulations, setbacks from residential areas, noise and vibration standards, sound level limits, utility infrastructure requirements, air quality measurements, and ongoing compliance and reporting standards. The updated code also formalizes the CUP process for data centers, mandating two public hearings.