Mississippi River mayors help cities navigate rising data center interest
Mayors from the Mississippi River Basin are collaborating to help communities evaluate increasing data center proposals. The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI) introduced two new resources to guide local officials in understanding the risks, benefits, and fiscal returns of data center construction. These resources aim to protect community resources like water and utility services.
Mayors representing more than 100 communities in the Mississippi River Basin convened recently to address the rapid expansion of data centers across the region and provide guidance on evaluating new proposals. During a press conference in Natchez, Mississippi, Melisa Logan, mayor of Blytheville, Arkansas, and co-chair of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), highlighted that over 75% of MRCTI member cities have been approached about hosting AI infrastructure. Communities have sought assistance from the organization on how to safeguard local resources, including water and utility services, from the potential impacts of data center development.
In response, the MRCTI announced two new resources at its annual meeting. The first is a "Wishlist" developed in collaboration with the Sierra Club, designed to help elected officials understand the risks and benefits associated with data center construction. The second is a framework, originally created by the Future Caucus of the Missouri House of Representatives, which helps communities assess the fiscal return of projects by factoring in public cost protections, resource usage, and community benefits. David Goins, mayor of Alton, Illinois, emphasized the importance of communities approaching data center proposals with full understanding, while Missouri state Representative Colin Wellenkamp, also MRCTI's executive director, stated the resources are intended to empower officials to ask the right questions.