Board of Aldermen to consider new data center license fee
St. Louis legislation would impose a new data center license fee based on annual power consumption rather than employee count. Revenue would support energy efficiency, grid resiliency, renewable energy and programs intended to reduce residents’ utility costs; the proposal would require voter approval if adopted.
St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Megan Green introduced legislation creating a data center license fee tied to calculated annual electricity usage. Green’s office estimates the fee could generate $4 million for every 100 megawatts of data center capacity.
The proposed revenue would fund rooftop solar, battery storage, community solar, cool roofs and residential microgrids, with the broader goal of addressing grid impacts and lowering utility costs. The board recently approved separate data center zoning regulations, while another measure signed by the mayor bars developers from receiving city tax abatements. If the fee passes the board and is signed by the mayor, St. Louis voters would consider it next April.