Greene County Commission asks Environmental Advisory Board to study data centers

The Greene County Commission recently approved a letter requesting the Springfield-Greene County Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) to undertake a study on the environmental implications of data centers. This decision, approved by a 2-0 vote with Commissioner John Russell absent, comes on the heels of the Springfield City Council enacting a 120-day moratorium on data center applications.

Presiding Commissioner Bob Dixon stated that he had initially sought the city's collaboration on the letter, but the city was already engaged in its own moratorium efforts. The proposed study will examine potential environmental effects related to energy consumption, water usage, emissions, and local infrastructure. It will also explore best practices, mitigation measures, and regulatory approaches from other communities, with the goal of providing recommendations for Greene County to protect its environment in light of current or future data center development.

Dixon confirmed that he is unaware of any specific data centers currently under development in Greene County's unincorporated areas, though Springfield City Manager David Cameron mentioned a potential project in Springfield that might include data center components. Greene County's zoning authority is limited to its unincorporated areas. The initiative is part of a broader trend in southwest Missouri and across the country where jurisdictions are implementing moratoriums to better understand and regulate the rapid expansion of AI data centers.