Plans announced for Flint Hills Digital Campus ‘gigawatt-scale’ data center in west Emporia

Emporia city leaders, alongside Kanza Park Place LLC, announced plans for the Flint Hills Digital Campus, a "gigawatt-scale" data center development in west Emporia's Industrial Park IV. The project, described as "transformational" by Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas Interim President/CEO Lyle Butler, has been under discussion for about eight months and is expected to bring significant private investment and economic diversification to the region.

The tentative plan involves 1,000 acres and is pending zoning recommendations and final approval from the Emporia City Commission. Kanza Park Place spokesman Garrett Nordstrom highlighted Emporia's strengths, including available land, infrastructure, and zoning readiness. The project is currently in an initial phase study with Evergy concerning power, and Kanza Park Place is negotiating water rights with the city, with a high water usage policy under consideration. This project comes at a time when the city is also evaluating major improvements to its aging water treatment plant.

The Emporia Planning Commission has scheduled a special meeting and public hearing for June 23 to consider creating a Digital Infrastructure Overlay (DI-O) to regulate potential development, which, if approved, would not affect existing land use. While specific company names remain undisclosed, Nordstrom characterized it as a "hyperscale" project. The announcement occurs amidst a national dialogue on data center impacts, including power and water usage, and noise. Coffey County, in the same region, recently enacted a 12-month moratorium on data center development, though Emporia officials see their project as a major economic boost.