Some residents demand public vote on proposed Festus data center

A proposed multi-billion dollar data center in Festus, Missouri, is encountering significant community pushback. City leaders are promoting the project, developed by CRG, as a "once in a generation" opportunity, promising jobs, tax revenue, and long-term growth. The city announced that a framework for a development agreement with CRG is now in place. However, many residents feel blindsided and excluded from the decision-making process. They criticize the city for making deals "without us" and have gathered over 1,400 signatures to demand a public vote on the project. Residents express strong concerns about potential negative impacts, including contamination of water wells, increased noise and pollution, and deforestation of wooded areas, arguing that the project's benefits do not outweigh these costs. City leaders have informed residents that their charter does not mandate a public vote for such projects. Despite this, a public meeting is scheduled, where residents plan to attend in large numbers to voice their opinions and demand transparency regarding the project's impact on their community.