Opinion: Data Centers Discussed as Locally Unwanted Land Uses Amidst Community Opposition in Kansas
This article discusses data centers as "locally unwanted land uses" (LULUs) due to their negative externalities like high energy bills, land and water consumption, and potential for human worker replacement. It notes strong public opposition, particularly among younger generations, and highlights communities in Kansas, such as Ottawa and Emporia, that are organizing bans or moratoriums on data center development.
The author reflects on their past experience as a city planner dealing with controversial re-zoning requests, drawing parallels to current debates surrounding data centers. These facilities are categorized as "locally unwanted land uses" (LULUs), a term coined by Frank Popper, due to the negative externalities they impose on nearby communities.
Negative impacts associated with data centers include noise, air pollution, odor, visual blight, reduced health outcomes, and diminished property values. The article notes that like other LULUs, data centers tend to gravitate towards disadvantaged areas with cheaper land and less political influence. Despite widespread public opposition, particularly from younger demographics, there's a paradoxical societal dependence on these facilities for e-commerce and cloud services.
In Kansas, community opposition is significant, with half of Americans reportedly "strongly opposing" data centers. The article cites Ottawa and Emporia as examples of Kansas communities where citizens are actively organizing bans or moratoriums against data center developments, driven by concerns over energy costs, land use, water consumption, and the perceived threat of automation to jobs.