Emporia Neighbors United launches second petition after first effort rejected
Emporia Neighbors United is circulating a second citizen initiative petition to prohibit hyperscale data centers and certain battery energy storage systems within Emporia city limits after their first petition was rejected due to statutory requirements. The group aims to gather enough signatures for the city commission to either adopt the proposed ordinance or put it to a public vote. This effort runs parallel to the city's ongoing review of the proposed Flint Hills Digital Campus development, which faces public concerns over water use and infrastructure.
Emporia Neighbors United, a citizen group, has launched a second petition drive following the rejection of their initial attempt to ban hyperscale data centers and specific battery energy storage systems within Emporia city limits. The City of Emporia announced on Friday that the first petition, which had gathered 1,358 signatures, failed to comply with Kansas statutory requirements, as determined by the Lyon County Election Office. Despite this setback, organizers quickly began collecting signatures for a revised petition over the weekend, with member Jay Vehige reporting approximately 450 new signatures within the first 24 hours.
The proposed ordinance, if approved, would prohibit large-scale data centers. If the new petition meets all requirements and gathers the necessary valid signatures (804 were needed for the first attempt), the Emporia City Commission would then decide whether to adopt the ordinance or place it before voters. This petition drive is distinct from the city's ongoing review of the Flint Hills Digital Campus development, a project that has drawn both support for economic development and opposition due to concerns about water use, infrastructure demands, and environmental impacts.
City commissioners and City Manager Trey Cocking are slated to attend a summit in Topeka focused on the impacts of large-load developments like data centers. The Emporia City Commission is subsequently expected to review recommendations from the Emporia Planning Commission regarding the digital campus at its July 22 meeting. Emporia Neighbors United has reiterated its commitment to the citizen initiative process despite the initial rejection.