Emporia City Commission to vote on data center, battery storage ballot measures
The Emporia City Commission will vote on ballot measures regarding prohibiting data centers and battery energy storage facilities. This follows a Lyon County District Court order compelling the city to place a citizen petition about data centers on the ballot, despite city officials arguing against it. The meeting will be open to the public after previous contentious sessions.
The Emporia City Commission is scheduled to meet on Wednesday at the Civic Auditorium to consider and act on two ballot measures. These measures, stemming from citizen petitions filed on July 14, aim to prohibit certain data centers and battery energy storage facilities within city limits.
The city's decision to place the data center petition on the ballot comes after a Lyon County District Court judge issued an order on Thursday, compelling the city to do so. City officials had previously sought judicial review, contending that zoning regulations might not be subject to the citizen initiative process. The city has stated it will comply with the court's order. The upcoming meeting is open to the public, following recent virtual sessions held after a previous contentious meeting that led to an arrest.