Data center development in the St. Louis region

Data center developments are sparking significant local opposition in the St. Louis region. In Ferguson, residents have voiced strong concerns regarding a plan to construct a data center at the former Emerson complex. While developers claim the $2 billion project will create an entrepreneurial hub and upgrade an existing data center without increasing local utility bills, residents fear negative environmental and economic consequences, particularly given the area's history with environmental contamination. Simultaneously, Franklin County experienced an intense debate as approximately 1,000 residents packed Union High School, remaining until 5 AM, to protest the rezoning of two farms into industrial sites for a data center. The majority urged the city board to reject the rezoning proposal, expressing a renewed sense that their voices were finally being heard. Opponents have stated their intention to continue fighting the project should it proceed to the commissioner's desk and be approved. KSDK News has reached out to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and the data center developers for comment but has not yet received a response.