Lawrence Considers Data Center Moratorium Amid Public Debate
Lawrence, Kansas, city commissioners are considering a moratorium on data center development after residents called for it due to concerns about water and electricity usage. The city's current development code allows data centers on industrial land without special approval, prompting debate over the economic benefits versus public opposition. Commissioners asked staff for more information before deciding on the proposed moratorium.
Lawrence, Kansas, city commissioners are debating a potential moratorium on data center development after residents voiced strong opposition. The discussion at Lawrence City Hall follows a Journal-World series revealing that the city's new development code permits data centers on any industrially-zoned property without requiring specific City Commission approvals.
Commissioners expressed interest in a moratorium but deferred an immediate decision, requesting staff to provide additional information for a future meeting. This comes amid national polls indicating significant community opposition to data center construction, with 71% of Americans against it.
The article also highlights several factors for consideration in the moratorium debate: water consumption, potential revenue, and electricity usage. Developers of a proposed 6,000-acre project in southwest Kansas claim their data center would use 600 million gallons of water annually, which is less than the 3.2 billion gallons currently used for irrigating the same farmland. Lawrence's water treatment plant operates at 25% capacity and could handle a large data center's needs, potentially increasing the utility's efficiency.
Economically, a $250 million data center could generate approximately $2 million annually in city property taxes and $2.5 million for the county, in addition to significant water fees. However, concerns persist about data centers' impact on electricity rates, with consumer advocates fearing infrastructure upgrade costs could be passed on to general utility customers. The article notes that Evergy's regional rate structure means Lawrence residents could be impacted by data centers anywhere in eastern Kansas, regardless of a local moratorium.