New checklist aims to help Missouri communities ask data center developers the right questions
The Missouri House Future Caucus has developed a new guide, the AI Infrastructure Community Evaluation Framework, to help local communities across the state evaluate data center proposals. This initiative stems from a past negative experience with a secretive data center project in St. Charles. Additionally, the caucus plans to introduce legislation in the next session to increase transparency, particularly regarding water and electricity usage, by requiring permits from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
The Missouri House Future Caucus has launched a new guide called the AI Infrastructure Community Evaluation Framework to assist local communities in assessing data center proposals. State Rep. Colin Wellenkamp, R-St. Charles, stated that the framework was developed following a challenging and opaque data center project experience in St. Charles last year, which he described as a "master class in what not to do."
The guide aims to help local leaders ask critical questions about how proposals are formatted, how resources like water will be protected, and how local communities can benefit from developments, considering tax incentives and infrastructure costs. Rep. Scott Miller, R-St. Charles County, noted that the guide takes a neutral approach to vetting projects, acknowledging that data centers, like other industrial developments, can have both positive and negative impacts.
In addition to the framework, the caucus plans to introduce new legislation related to data centers in Missouri’s upcoming legislative session. Rep. Wellenkamp intends to reintroduce a bill from last year that would mandate data centers to obtain permits from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, making their water and electricity usage public records to enhance transparency.