Missourians rally against data centers as officials gather to discuss them
Approximately 100 Missourians rallied in Jefferson City against data center development, expressing concerns over environmental impact, water usage, and insufficient tax contributions. The protest coincided with a data center summit for state and local officials, from which the public was excluded. Residents from Festus, Joplin, and Montgomery County shared experiences of community opposition to data center projects.
Roughly 100 Missourians gathered in Jefferson City to protest the proliferation of data centers across the state, coinciding with a data center summit for state and local officials. Protesters expressed frustration over their exclusion from the summit, which was limited to members of the Missouri Association of Counties, Missouri Municipal League, and Missouri School Boards’ Association.
Speakers at the rally highlighted local opposition efforts, including Gabe Cotton of Festus, where citizens successfully ousted four city council members supportive of a data center and are now attempting to recall more officials. Brenna Bower shared similar community-led efforts in Joplin. Concerns were also raised about the financial contributions of data center companies, with Montgomery County presiding commissioner candidate Harry Cope arguing corporations underpay taxes. Environmental impact was a major theme, as KJ McDonald of Joplin and Elyse Schaeffer of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment voiced fears about excessive water use and strain on Missouri's water and electric resources. Schaeffer cited St. Charles as an example of successful opposition, where a permanent moratorium on large-scale data centers has been enacted.
This broad opposition movement follows Amazon's recent announcement of a multibillion-dollar data center project in Montgomery County, further fueling public debate over the industry's presence in Missouri.