Data center proposal draws crowd to Leavenworth County meeting
A proposed data center project named Blue Step, spanning 1100 acres in Tonganoxie, Leavenworth County, Kansas, is facing significant public opposition due to concerns about its size, noise, and massive electricity consumption. Leavenworth County Commissioners held a public hearing to gather input from residents, following a previous decision not to extend a data center moratorium.
Leavenworth County leaders held a public hearing in Tonganoxie to address a proposed data center project, code-named Blue Step, by Cloverleaf Infrastructure. The project is described as massive, covering approximately 1100 acres, equivalent to 830 football fields, and has drawn a large crowd of residents eager to voice their opinions.
Opponents, including local residents Carl Skin and Jim Carl Skit, are primarily concerned about the immense scale of the project, potential noise pollution, and its substantial electricity demand, which could be comparable to that of San Francisco. Cloverleaf Infrastructure, however, issued a statement highlighting that the project would create jobs and generate new tax revenue to benefit local schools and first responders.
Leavenworth County Commissioner Vanessa Reed noted a divide within the community regarding the project, with some supporters reportedly afraid to speak publicly due to fear of bullying. Reed was among the commissioners who voted against extending a previous data center moratorium. The hearing was expected to run for several hours, with residents given three minutes to address the commissioners.