Missourians Demand Data Center Moratorium at Capitol People’s Hearing

More than 370 Missourians representing 53 counties convened at the State Capitol in Jefferson City on September 16th to advocate for a moratorium on data center development. The "People's Hearing on A.I. Data Centers" brought together farmers and rural residents who expressed deep concerns about the rapid influx of data centers, particularly their impact on agricultural land and vital resources.

Speakers at the hearing shared personal stories, highlighting potential threats to aquifers and family farmlands. Wren Haffner, an Ozark County farmer, emphasized the critical need for water in food production, calling for a moratorium until farms, farmers, and rural wells are fully protected. Bob Ridgley, a New Florence farmer, voiced worries about a proposed Montgomery County data center's potential to irrevocably alter his family's generational land and way of life. Rhonda Perry, Executive Director of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, noted the strong turnout and unified demand for a moratorium among diverse groups concerned about farmland, water, energy bills, and transparency. The No MO Dirty Data Centers Coalition, anchored by the Missouri Workers Center and Missouri Rural Crisis Center, organized the event.

Attendees presented a comprehensive policy platform for the upcoming 2027 legislative session. Key demands included a moratorium to allow for the implementation of regulations preventing data center costs from shifting to communities, protections for the power grid during peak usage times, and safeguards for water resources for farmers and existing users. Additionally, the group called for the closure of tax loopholes benefiting data centers and measures to control electric utility rate increases.