Leavenworth Farmers Raise Concerns Over Data Center Plan
Leavenworth County farmers are voicing concerns to county commissioners about a proposed data center near Tonganoxie by Cloverleaf Infrastructure. They fear the heat generated by the facility could harm their crops and deter visitors, urging the commission to reject the plan. The community is expected to voice concerns at an upcoming county commission meeting.
Farmers in Leavenworth County, Kansas, are expressing significant concerns regarding a proposed data center development by Cloverleaf Infrastructure near Tonganoxie. Ed Ervin, a local winery owner, and Ted Grinter, who farms corn, soybeans, and sunflower fields, fear the heat generated by the large data center could devastate their crops and negatively impact their agricultural businesses. They referenced a University of Michigan study on data center heat generation as a basis for their worries.
The farmers plan to voice their objections at an upcoming county commission meeting, hoping the commissioners will prioritize local businesses over the proposed development. While Cloverleaf Infrastructure claims the project would bring significant economic opportunity to the community, farmers like Ervin argue that existing local businesses are the best form of economic development.
Reporter Lilia O'shay Becker reached out to Cloverleaf Infrastructure for comment on potential environmental impact research but had not received a response. The community hopes the county commissioners will heed their calls to reject the project, citing concerns about a "heat dome" and preserving clean air and the natural topography of the area.