Electricity rates, utility discussed over proposed data center in Pottawatomie County
A proposed data center by Beltline Energy in Pottawatomie County, Kansas, is facing scrutiny from local officials and residents. A recent meeting addressed concerns about the project's impact on electricity rates, water usage, and noise pollution, with utility Evergy providing information and landowners expressing significant worries.
Officials from Riley and Pottawatomie Counties convened in Wamego, Kansas, to discuss a proposed data center project in northeast Kansas, drawing attention to potential impacts on electricity rates and local resources. Evergy Senior Director of External Affairs Jason Klindt addressed questions, clarifying that the utility cannot raise prices without Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) approval and that data centers, unlike other industrial developments, would pay a 20% premium on electricity, benefiting residential customers.
The discussion also touched upon Kansas Senate Bill 98, enacted in 2025, which offers a 20-year state and local tax exemption for data center equipment. However, local concerns, particularly from landowners near the proposed Beltline Energy project near the Jeffrey Energy Center, persist. Pottawatomie County resident Richard Carlson, whose family met with Beltline officials, voiced worries about land acquisition, noise pollution potentially affecting livestock and residents, and the necessity of such a facility.
Water usage emerged as a significant issue, with Beltline Energy proposing to draw water from the Jeffrey Energy Center's lakes for cooling, instead of potable water due to county regulations. Carlson highlighted that increased demand on these lakes could indirectly impact the Kansas River, a critical drinking water source. Despite supporting industrial development generally, Carlson questioned the data center's essential nature and raised concerns that rural residents would disproportionately bear the project's negative impacts while larger communities might reap tax benefits.