Festus data center opponents vow to continue fight to stop project

Opposition to a proposed hyperscale data center project in Festus, Missouri, reached a peak as over 120 residents attended a Wake Up Jeffco meeting ahead of a crucial Festus City Council vote. The council is scheduled to consider Bill No. 4876, an ordinance to approve an infrastructure development agreement with CRG Acquisition, on Monday evening. Despite anticipating the agreement's passage, opponents, led by the Wake Up Jeffco group and attorney Steve Jeffery, pledged to continue their fight. Attendees at the Sunday meeting expressed concerns that the data center, planned for property north of Hwy. 67 and west of Hwy. CC, would lead to increased electric and water rates, noise pollution, health problems, and decreased property values. Attorney Steve Jeffery, who also represents similar anti-data center groups elsewhere in Missouri, questioned the city's transparency, citing emails released in December 2025 through Sunshine Law requests. These emails allegedly showed city officials arranging closed-door meetings with CRG representatives, with only a minority of council members present to avoid a quorum, thereby skirting public meeting laws. Further concerns were raised regarding unverified claims of old gravesites, including a slave cemetery, on the proposed development property. Jeffery advised interested parties to contact the State Historic Preservation Office within the Department of Natural Resources for investigation if concrete evidence emerges. Additionally, Festus officials have stated that public comments at the special meeting will only be allowed if Mayor Sam Richards' motion to permit them gains a three-fourths council approval.