Beale Infrastructure withdraws application for proposed data center in Gardner

Beale Infrastructure has officially withdrawn its application for a proposed multi-building data center in Gardner, Kansas, effectively halting the project. The decision follows the City of Gardner's announcement that it would not offer incentives for the development, which had previously generated substantial opposition from hundreds of local residents. The proposed 300-acre data center, planned for the southeast corner of 183rd Street and South Clare Road, had been briefly introduced at Gardner's State of the City in early April, quickly drawing community concerns. Residents voiced worries about potential impacts on young and older residents, environmental effects, health concerns, and noise and light pollution. Gardner Mayor Todd Winters thanked community members for their engagement and reiterated the city's commitment to responsible economic development. Beale Infrastructure had projected the facility would use a closed-loop, air-cooled system with minimal water usage, comparable to two or three local restaurants, and would not strain the power grid. The company also planned road improvements. Beale Infrastructure is reportedly breaking ground on a separate data center project in De Soto, Kansas.