Webster County residents loud and clear on data center opposition

MARSHFIELD, MO – Hundreds of Webster County residents voiced strong opposition to a data center project currently under construction in rural Webster County during a contentious public meeting in Marshfield. Many attendees felt left uninformed by county leaders about the project, which they learned was progressing as land flattening was visible. County commissioners acknowledged the county's lack of planning and zoning, a measure reportedly rejected by voters multiple times. Residents urged the Webster County Commission to implement a one-year moratorium on data center construction. One resident pleaded for a halt not to stop the current project entirely, but to gather more information and collaborate with the community, noting an attorney had already prepared a moratorium proposal for the commissioners' consideration. Developer Trent Over Hughes addressed the upset crowd, asserting that the project is not as large as other data centers seen across the country and uses very little water. Northern Webster County Commissioner Dale Fraker stated that discussions about a potential moratorium have occurred, but the commission is consulting its attorneys to determine their legal options given the project's ongoing progress. Amid calls from the audience for the three commissioners to be voted out, Fraker acknowledged the political implications of their inaction. As of now, the developer confirmed that construction is proceeding as expected, with work potentially ramping up in the coming year.