Protesters rally against data centers as Missouri officials meet to discuss projects
Protesters gathered at the Missouri state capitol in Jefferson City to voice concerns over data center development, urging government officials to impose regulations on noise and water usage. The demonstration coincided with a private summit for local government leaders on data center development, while Governor Mike Kehoe continues to promote these projects as economic drivers. State Representative Tricia Byrnes is proposing legislation for increased transparency and a statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers.
Protesters converged on the Missouri state capitol in Jefferson City during a private summit for local government officials focused on data center development. Demonstrators, including concerned residents like Tim Schafer from Nodaway County and Janet Hubbard from Pacific, called for increased government regulation on noise and water usage, citing a lack of transparency in current data center deals. They expressed anxieties about potential impacts on livelihoods and rural communities, while the Missouri Department of Natural Resources reported between 50 and 91 data centers already operating in the state.
Governor Mike Kehoe, who recently celebrated an Amazon data center project in central Missouri, championed data centers as significant economic boosters, attributing public concerns to misinformation. Kehoe is scheduled to host a public forum on artificial intelligence and data centers at Missouri S&T in Rolla, which will address energy demand, workforce, environmental factors, and community impact.
Meanwhile, Republican State Representative Tricia Byrnes introduced the "People Before Powerful Interests Act," aiming for greater transparency, independent reviews, and county-wide voter approval for projects receiving public incentives. Byrnes also advocated for a statewide moratorium on future hyperscale data center developments until community concerns can be adequately addressed, emphasizing the need for public involvement in decisions with lasting local effects.