DATA CENTER: Digital Campus, city officials continue answering pointed questions nearly week after announcement
Kanza Park Place announced plans for a gigawatt-scale data center, the Flint Hills Digital Campus, in Emporia, Kansas. The project, projected to be a 10-year build-out on 1,000 acres, faces numerous questions from the public and city officials regarding its environmental impact, electricity and water usage, and potential economic benefits. Public opinion has been largely critical, prompting city officials and the Regional Development Association to address community concerns.
Less than a week after Kanza Park Place announced plans for the Flint Hills Digital Campus, a gigawatt-scale data center on Emporia, Kansas's west edge, city officials are continuing to field questions. The project involves the recent annexation of five land tracts by city commissioners, ahead of formal recommendations from the Planning Commission and a final city decision.
Garrett Nordstrom of Kanza Park Place indicated that construction is tentatively slated to begin by the second quarter of 2029, contingent on engineering and design completion. If fully built out across 1,000 acres, the project could span a decade. Nordstrom confirmed the project has cleared Evergy's initial review phase and is progressing to the Analysis of Alternatives or AQ phase. He clarified that companies operating at the Digital Campus will bear power delivery costs, including consumption and infrastructure.
Water use, particularly concerning Emporia's capacity and potential strain on the Neosho River, is a major public concern. Nordstrom stated that the final cooling technology will be determined by the end-user's needs, with options including air-cooled, closed-loop, or a combination; evaporative is the most water-intensive. While no water rights agreement is in place, plans involve measuring potential data center usage against city resources. Main Street Director Casey Woods noted that the data center's utility needs align with existing local discussions.
The project, which will utilize Senate Bill 98 for potential sales tax exemptions for companies investing at least $250 million and creating 20 new jobs, faces overwhelmingly critical public opinion. However, Nordstrom, Woods, and Regional Development Association (RDA) officials, including Interim Vice President Brad Kraft and Interim President and CEO Lyle Butler, highlight potential benefits such as modernizing Emporia's economy, serving as a "tax anchor," and creating significant construction and permanent jobs. The Emporia Planning Commission will hold a special meeting and public hearing on a proposed new zoning overlay next week, while the RDA Board of Directors has released a detailed Q&A document addressing community queries on topics like noise standards, setback requirements, and chemical storage.