Proposed Data Center in Leavenworth County, Kansas, Faces Opposition Over Environmental Concerns
An opinion piece from a Leavenworth County resident expresses strong opposition to Cloverleaf Infrastructure's proposed 'Project Bluestem' data center, citing significant environmental concerns. The project, planned for 1,000 acres south of Tonganoxie, is criticized for its potential negative impact on native wildlife, including bees and butterflies, due to noise and light pollution, and its effect on the prairie ecosystem. The author urges Leavenworth County officials to reject the proposal.
Michelle Carpenter, a board member of Beulah's Butterfly Ranch in Leavenworth County, Kansas, has voiced strong opposition to a proposed hyperscale data center called 'Project Bluestem.' The project, put forward by Houston-based Cloverleaf Infrastructure, seeks to develop 1,000 acres of prairie land just south of Tonganoxie, a few miles from Carpenter's nonprofit wildlife refuge.
Carpenter criticizes the project's name, 'Bluestem,' as a misleading attempt to align with Kansas's native bluestem grass, which is crucial for the ecosystem. She argues that the data center, co-founded by a former Microsoft energy executive, is an 'invasive species' and a 'modern-day land man for Big Tech.'
Her primary concerns center on the environmental impacts, including low-frequency noise from cooling systems, which she believes could disrupt bee communication and serve as a constant public nuisance. Light pollution from the facility is also highlighted as a threat to moths and butterflies, potentially disrupting their migration patterns. Carpenter draws parallels to the historical Dust Bowl, warning against decisions that ignore ecological guidance. She urges Leavenworth County to reject the project, prioritizing the native prairie and its wildlife over the developer's agenda.