Emporia City Leaders Tour Oklahoma Data Center Ahead of Key Votes on Local Project
Emporia city leaders toured Google's data center campus in Pryor, Oklahoma, to gain insights for the proposed Flint Hills Digital Campus in Emporia, Kansas. Key decisions on zoning and a large-volume water use policy are imminent, facing active opposition from local residents.
Emporia city officials, including Commissioners Monica Duncan and Erren Harter, along with local businessmen and landowners, visited Google's MidAmerica Industrial Park data center in Pryor, Oklahoma. The tour aimed to inform their decisions regarding the proposed Flint Hills Digital Campus in Emporia, Kansas. Pryor Mayor Zac Doyle highlighted the significant economic and educational benefits Google's presence has brought to his city, emphasizing infrastructure upgrades and job creation.
While impressed, Emporia stakeholders and local landowners like Steve Cates and David Faulkner raised concerns about beautification, setbacks, and noise, especially after observing a loud bitcoin mining operation at the Pryor site. Commissioner Duncan underscored the need for beautification projects and a decommissioning plan for the Emporia project. She also noted the potential for infrastructure improvements without additional cost to residents.
Major decisions loom for the proposed Emporia data center, with a special meeting of the Emporia Planning Commission scheduled to discuss a zoning overlay. The City Commission will also address adjustments to the large-volume water use policy. Residents' group "Emporia Neighbors United" planned a rally ahead of the hearing, indicating ongoing opposition. City Manager Trey Cocking outlined numerous remaining steps, including development agreements and site plan reviews, before construction can commence. Developer Gary Pinkston of Cedar Point is pursuing the project, expecting significant job creation over a ten-year build-out, and has indicated interest from major tech companies.