Ottawa Community Pushes Ordinance to Limit Data Center Power Use
Ottawa residents are actively gathering signatures for a ballot petition to enact an ordinance limiting data centers to 25 megawatts of power consumption. This initiative aims to prevent large-scale data center development and could appear on the November ballot if city commissioners do not adopt it. The community voices concerns over potential pollution and power usage.
Residents in Ottawa, Kansas, are spearheading an effort to curb data center development in their community. Led by figures like Michael and Jessica, locals are actively petitioning against a proposed 300-acre data center site, which they describe as encompassing a data center with an attached power plant. Concerns about potential pollution and a feeling of being unheard by city officials are driving their organized opposition.
Ottawa United, a local group, is currently collecting signatures for a ballot petition aimed at introducing a specific ordinance. This proposed regulation would prohibit the city from permitting or constructing any data center that exceeds a 25-megawatt power usage limit. The group reports broad support, indicating a diverse political base among those signing the petition, and needs to gather just under 500 signatures within 20 days to advance their cause.
Should the petition garner the required signatures, city commissioners will have a 20-day window to either adopt the proposed ordinance or allow it to be placed on the November ballot. Residents, including Michael who resides approximately one mile from the prospective data center site, are also advocating for greater transparency from the city. In response, Ottawa city staff have indicated the city's commitment to adhering to consistent development processes.