Kansas Communities Fight Proposed Data Center Projects
Residents in Ottawa and El Dorado, Kansas, are actively fighting proposed data center developments. Ottawa residents are seeking legal counsel after their city commission took no action on a petition to ban data centers, while El Dorado's city commission will put a similar petition before voters in November following a judge's favorable ruling on the petition process.
Residents in Ottawa, Kansas, continue to oppose a proposed data center, with a citizen-led group submitting hundreds of signatures demanding the city take action or face legal challenge. The group has since indicated they are seeking legal counsel after the City of Ottawa commissioners, following legal advice, took no action on their petition to ban data centers.
Ottawa residents are drawing inspiration from similar efforts in Butler County, Kansas, where a judge recently ruled in favor of citizens fighting data center development in El Dorado. Megan Wright, a resident, recounted the relief following the judge's decision, which affirmed the community's right to have a voice. The El Dorado City Commission, after the judge's approval, decided to put a proposed ordinance to ban high-impact data centers before voters in November.
Quinn Hughes, a Wichita law firm representative, explained that a Kansas statute allows citizens to compel a city to either adopt a proposed ordinance or call an election if enough signatures are gathered. This mechanism is being utilized by communities like El Dorado and Ottawa to challenge data center projects.
Despite the setback in Ottawa where commissioners declined to act, the citizen-led group is determined to continue their fight. Lillie O'Shea Becker, KSHB 41's Franklin County beat reporter, reached out to the city for comment but has not yet received a response.