Lawmakers’ shift on data centers is not without consequences
Kansas lawmakers Rep. Brooklynne Mosley and Rep. Alexis Simmons are advocating for temporary moratoriums on data center construction across the state, citing a burgeoning grassroots opposition movement driven by concerns over water and electricity usage, noise, and environmental impacts. Their stance marks a shift from previous bipartisan support for data center development and has led to political repercussions from labor unions. The legislators argue for a pause to allow the state to develop policies addressing these concerns before further expansion.
Kansas State Representatives Brooklynne Mosley, a Lawrence Democrat, and Alexis Simmons, a Topeka Democrat, are publicly embracing a growing grassroots movement against data center expansion across Kansas. The lawmakers, who appeared on the Kansas Reflector podcast, expressed concern over community objections regarding water and electricity consumption, noise, air pollution, and the broader implications of artificial intelligence development.
This shift in perspective comes despite Mosley's previous support for legislation that provided sales tax exemptions for data center construction materials, a law that has attracted hyperscale data center developers to the state. Both representatives now advocate for temporary moratoriums on new data center projects, proposing a pause that would allow the Kansas Legislature to consider new policies. These policies would aim to improve government transparency in development deals and ensure that data center operators bear the full environmental costs of their operations, learning from issues faced by other states and counties.
The lawmakers' stance has created political friction, particularly with traditionally allied labor unions. The Kansas AFL-CIO, despite Mosley and Simmons holding perfect legislative scores on labor issues, declined to endorse them this year. Similarly, the SMART Transportation Division Kansas State Legislative Board endorsed a Republican candidate for governor after Democratic State Senator Cindy Holscher proposed a temporary moratorium on data centers, illustrating the political consequences faced by those who oppose the industry's rapid expansion.