Missouri Sees Significant Data Center Growth, Impacting Utility Costs

Missouri is experiencing a surge in data center operations, though the exact number of facilities remains difficult to ascertain, with estimates varying from approximately 50 according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to 91 listed by DataCenterMap. Data Center Journal identifies at least 19 "major" data centers run by 14 different organizations. Regardless of the precise count, the state acknowledges the presence of at least seven exceptionally large data centers. This proliferation of data centers is reportedly driving up utility costs for Missouri residents. Both Harvard and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute concur that the massive energy requirements of data centers necessitate substantial infrastructure investments, ultimately affecting consumer energy expenses.