Kansas Coalition Calls for Data Center Moratorium, Cites Environmental and Infrastructure Concerns
The Kansas WEALTH Coalition has issued a joint statement demanding a data center moratorium in Kansas until significant guardrails are established. The coalition emphasizes the need for corporate accountability, transparent environmental studies, and protection of local resources. They aim to address concerns regarding water and energy consumption, land disturbance, and the overall impact of hyperscale data centers on communities.
The Kansas WEALTH (Water, Energy, Air, Land, Transportation, and Health) Coalition has publicly called for a data center moratorium across Kansas. In a joint statement, the coalition insists that development cease until comprehensive guardrails are put in place to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the state's communities.
The coalition's proposed principles for these guardrails include corporate accountability and transparency from developers, transparent third-party studies on environmental and infrastructure impacts, and the protection of local water resources. They also advocate for reasonable buffer zones from sensitive areas, meaningful public participation, comprehensive review processes based on local circumstances, and requirements for data centers to generate or purchase new clean energy while adhering to high energy efficiency standards and public reporting on resource use.
Various members of the coalition expressed their concerns. Rabbi Moti Rieber, Executive Director of Kansas Interfaith Action, described the current situation as a "wild-west scenario" due to a "mad rush" to build data centers with little oversight and state tax abatements. Dorothy Barnett of the Climate + Energy Project highlighted the risk of locking in higher pollution and overburdening the power grid without clean energy generation. Zack Pistora, Kansas Director for the Sierra Club, emphasized the detrimental effects of hyperscale data centers on the environment and communities, calling for sustainable design, proper siting, and appropriate taxation.
Tom Buller, Executive Director of the Kansas Rural Center, warned that large-scale data centers would strain power supplies and limited water sources, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations. The coalition's statement is available online for individuals and organizations to sign on and support the call for a moratorium and common-sense guardrails.