Kansas Governor Candidates Divided on Statewide Data Center Moratorium
Four Kansas gubernatorial candidates are calling for a statewide moratorium on data center construction, citing concerns about environmental impacts, water supply, and utility costs. This stance contrasts with others who prioritize economic development and local control, highlighting a key division in the ongoing debate over tech projects across the state.
In Kansas, the debate over data center development has become a significant issue in the gubernatorial race, with four of ten candidates advocating for a statewide moratorium on new construction. Senator Cindy Holscher, a Democrat from Overland Park, joined Republican candidates Philip Sarnecki, Charlotte O’Hara, and Stacy Rogers in proposing a temporary halt to projects. Holscher emphasized the need for new guardrails to ensure transparency and sustainability, particularly regarding water supply and community health, despite having previously voted for tax incentives for data centers.
Republican candidate Philip Sarnecki, an entrepreneur from Johnson County, has called for a five-year moratorium, followed by countywide referendums and a ban on eminent domain for data center projects. He also demands guarantees that developments will not strain water resources or increase energy costs for residents. This comes as local communities, like Leavenworth County, have already enacted temporary moratoriums due to public backlash, and Gardner saw a developer withdraw an application amid "fierce opposition."
Conversely, some officials, including Senate President Ty Masterson and Secretary of State Scott Schwab, oppose a blanket statewide moratorium. Masterson argues for localized decision-making, emphasizing that data centers can make sense in certain areas if they manage their own power and don't burden local resources. Schwab believes in allowing growing communities to leverage "big tech" for infrastructure funding instead of raising property taxes. Democratic Senator Ethan Corson and Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog also favor local control, advocating for data centers to pay their full share of energy costs, adopt water-saving technologies, and create union jobs, provided they are developed responsibly.
The debate highlights a tension between economic development through tax incentives, originally passed with bipartisan support, and growing public concerns over the environmental and fiscal impacts of large-scale data center projects on Kansas communities.