The Kansas community fighting data centers before they arrive
Residents in Lawrence, Kansas, have formed a group to proactively oppose potential data center developments, learning from nearby communities already facing proposals. This comes as Lawrence city commissioners enacted a two-year moratorium on large-scale data centers, changing the approval process from "by right" to requiring public input. Meanwhile, a moratorium was also passed in Leavenworth County, while a large data center project by Beale Infrastructure is under construction in De Soto, despite local frustrations.
Residents in Lawrence, Kansas, have formed the "Data Center Watchdogs" to proactively oppose future data center developments in Douglas County, inspired by communities like De Soto and Tonganoxie that are already grappling with large proposals. Nancy Thellman, a former county commissioner and Watchdog organizer, highlights concerns over prime farmland, water, electricity demands, and noise pollution, noting that Douglas County possesses many characteristics attractive to developers.
The article details several ongoing situations in Kansas. In Leavenworth County, commissioners passed a 90-day moratorium on data centers following pressure from the Tongie Data Center WatchDog Group, which opposes Cloverleaf's Project Bluestem, a proposed 1,000-acre facility near Tonganoxie. Jim Karleskint, an organizer, voiced concerns about noise impacts on the community and wildlife. In De Soto, a 2.9 million square-foot data center by Beale Infrastructure is under construction, having expanded significantly since its initial proposal. Mayor Rick Walker clarified that the original presentation was conceptual and the approved development agreement did not cap square footage, though the electrical capacity remains at 600 megawatts. Residents like Dally Holloway, who runs the national "Say NO to data centers" Facebook group from De Soto, express frustration over the lack of transparency and question the economic benefits.
Key policy discussions include Kansas Senate Bill 98, which offers 20-year state and local tax exemptions for data centers, contributing to a boom in proposals. Economists like Daniel Yue from Georgia Tech acknowledge potential economic upsides but also suggest that downsides can be mitigated by good regulation. Following community advocacy, Lawrence city commissioners recently approved a two-year moratorium on large-scale data centers, requiring public input for future projects, a departure from previous "by right" zoning. However, the Douglas Data Center Watchdogs continue their fight, advocating for a county-wide moratorium and the repeal of SB 98.