Petition circulated, residents to speak at Kearney city council meeting on data center concerns
Residents in Kearney, Nebraska are organizing opposition to a new data center being built by Sequitor Edge, citing concerns over noise and energy consumption. An online petition is circulating, and residents plan to voice their concerns at an upcoming city council meeting, requesting updates to city noise codes and release of the development agreement. The data center, located at the Tech oNE Crossing development, is scheduled to open in 2027.
Residents in Kearney, Nebraska, are actively opposing a new data center project by Sequitor Edge, which is slated to open in 2027 at the Tech oNE Crossing development. Josh Lillyman initiated the opposition on May 13 through a Facebook post, primarily raising concerns about potential noise impact from the facility.
Lillyman has since launched an online petition, gathering over 450 signatures. The petition urges the Kearney City Council to reinstate a 2003 repealed chapter of the city code on industrial nuisances, update the city's noise code, release Sequitor Edge's development agreement, and ensure that residential electricity rates are not affected by the data center's energy consumption.
In September 2025, the Kearney City Council approved the sale of a 16-acre parcel to Sequitor Edge. CEO Dan Fuhrman highlighted the strategic location near Nebraska Public Power District's energy infrastructure and fiber optic cabling. The Tech oNE Crossing industrial park already hosts a data center operated by Marathon Digital Holdings for bitcoin mining, along with a 5-megawatt solar farm by Engie and a new 100 MW substation from NPPD. Residents are expected to present their concerns at the next Kearney City Council meeting on May 26th.