Fulton residents weigh pros, cons of proposed data center
Fulton residents gathered for an information meeting regarding a proposed 800,000-square-foot data center by Denver-based AI company Crusoe in Callaway County. The meeting highlighted concerns over water usage, potential environmental impacts, and the lack of county zoning regulations in the proposed area. Further meetings are planned to discuss energy usage and environmental impacts.
Fulton community members and Callaway County residents convened at Callaway Electric Cooperative for a lengthy information meeting regarding a proposed 800,000-square-foot data center by Crusoe, a Denver-based AI company. Over 150 attendees met with county commissioners, developers, and environmental scientists to discuss the project, which would be built on private land and is not subject to county planning or zoning outside incorporated areas.
Western Commissioner Christopher Scott emphasized that the county's role is to secure the best deal for Callaway County, not to stop a legal business entity. Presiding Commissioner Gary Jungermann acknowledged that the commission's knowledge is limited as the company has primarily engaged them for power needs. Scott confirmed that water usage, power usage, and tax abatements for the project have not yet been approved.
Organized with assistance from the Missouri Protest Organization, the meeting primarily focused on the proposed 1.4 million gallons per year water usage for cooling. Discussions included the difference between open-loop and closed-loop cooling systems and potential environmental concerns such as groundwater depletion and the disposal of chemicals and computer chips. Environmental experts Dan Downing of MU Extension and chemist Bethany Mann highlighted the risks, including the potential for saltwater intrusion into groundwater reserves and the need for state regulation on chemical spills.
The meeting occurred hours after Governor Mike Kehoe announced Amazon's $10 billion data center investment in nearby Montgomery City. Callaway County residents and officials plan at least two more meetings to address energy usage and environmental impacts of Crusoe's proposed data center.