Emporia, Kansas, data center project sparks transparency concerns and legal disputes
A Kansas resident's request for public records about a proposed hyperscale data center in Emporia has been significantly delayed, fueling community distrust and sparking an active opposition movement. The city's handling of transparency and public engagement has drawn criticism, leading to legal challenges and a petition to ban data centers. A district court has ruled that the data center ban will appear on the November ballot.
Jay Vehige, an Emporia, Kansas resident and activist, is awaiting public records from the City of Emporia regarding a proposed hyperscale data center project. Vehige paid $1,740 in early July for communications related to the project and the developer, Kanza Park Place LLC, but has faced significant delays, with the city citing staff availability and workload. This lack of transparency has exacerbated distrust in the community since the project was announced on June 2, followed by the city's annexation of 1,000 acres for the development.
The controversy has led to the formation of Emporia Neighbors United, a group opposing the data center, which funded Vehige's records request. The city's handling of the situation, including temporarily moving commission meetings online due to unspecified "threats" and proposing to reduce public comment time, has drawn criticism. High school physics teacher Lux Claridge was arrested for clapping at a public meeting, though the charges were later dismissed.
Despite the city's attempts to block it, a district court judge ruled that a petition to put a data center ban before voters will appear on the November ballot. The city commission subsequently voted to include this ban and a question on large battery storage systems on the ballot, and decided to seek outside legal counsel for data center matters. In a related development, City Commissioner Erren Harter filed a lawsuit to stop a recall petition against him, naming Vehige and his partner as defendants.
Critics argue that the city's actions reflect an authoritarian approach, silencing public dissent and fostering an environment of secrecy around a project that raises concerns about environmental impact, particularly water usage in a drought-prone area. Vehige is now assisting opposition efforts in other Kansas towns.