DATA CENTER: Digital Campus, city officials continue answering pointed questions after announcement
Kanza Park Place's proposed gigawatt-scale Flint Hills Digital Campus in Emporia, Kansas, is facing significant public questions and concerns regarding its construction timeline, electricity needs, and water usage. City officials and the developer are actively addressing these concerns ahead of upcoming public meetings, including a special Planning Commission meeting for a proposed zoning overlay. The project aims to bring economic benefits but also raises environmental and infrastructure questions.
Less than a week after Kanza Park Place announced plans for a gigawatt-scale data center, the Flint Hills Digital Campus, on Emporia's west side, city officials and the developer are actively addressing numerous public questions. The city commissioners recently annexed five tracts of land for the project, but a final decision from the Planning Commission is pending. Garrett Nordstrom of Kanza Park Place indicated that construction is tentatively slated to begin by the second quarter of 2029, contingent on engineering and design completion, potentially making it a 10-year build-out on the 1,000-acre campus.
Key concerns include the project's substantial electricity and water demands. Nordstrom confirmed the project has cleared Evergy's initial review and is entering the Analysis of Alternatives phase, with eventual power costs and infrastructure responsibilities falling to the companies housed at the campus. Regarding water, Nordstrom noted that final cooling technology would depend on end-user needs, potentially using air-cooled or closed-loop systems to minimize impact on Emporia's water capacity and the Neosho River, though no water rights agreement with the city is yet finalized.
The project is also navigating state-level policy through Kansas Senate Bill 98, which offers sales tax exemptions to data centers meeting investment and job creation criteria, alongside commitments to electricity purchase agreements and water recycling. Public opinion has been largely critical, echoing national concerns about data centers, but local officials like Main Street Director Casey Woods and Regional Development Association Interim Vice President Brad Kraft emphasize the potential for economic modernization, job creation, and property tax benefits. The Emporia Planning Commission will hold a special meeting and public hearing next week on a proposed zoning overlay for digital infrastructure, while the RDA Board has released a comprehensive Q&A document addressing community concerns, including noise, setback requirements, and chemical storage.