Electrical workers union addresses data center concerns, misconceptions

Local electrical workers union representatives spoke at a town hall meeting to address concerns and misconceptions about data center developments in Sedgwick and Reno Counties, Kansas. Jeimeson Saudino, the business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 271 in Wichita, explained that while new data center proposals envision much larger facilities - over 1 million square feet - there are already several smaller data centers operating in the region, including a 168,000 square-foot NetApp facility on the Wichita State University campus. Saudino acknowledged the legitimate concerns raised by residents, such as water usage and environmental impacts. However, he urged elected officials and the public to take a balanced, thoughtful approach rather than outright rejecting the projects. He pointed to examples in other cities like Pryor, Oklahoma and DeSoto, Kansas where data centers were developed in ways that benefited the local economy and environment. The union representatives emphasized that modern data centers utilize closed-loop water systems and air-cooling technology, addressing some of the historic water consumption issues. They argued that Sedgwick County leaders have the power to strike data center deals that work for both residents and the environment.