Leavenworth County to Host Meeting on 1,000-Acre Data Center
Leavenworth County is holding a special commissioner meeting to discuss Project Bluestem, a proposed 1,000-acre data center near Tonganoxie. Local residents are organizing to oppose the project, citing concerns about energy usage and the potential inclusion of a gas power plant. The county's data center moratorium recently expired, and officials are now considering new regulations for data centers.
Leavenworth County is preparing to host a crucial meeting to discuss Project Bluestem, a proposed 1,000-acre data center development near Tonganoxie, Kansas. The project, which has doubled in size since its original proposal in March, faces significant opposition from local residents.
Community members, including Rebecca Davis and the Tonganoxie data center watchdog group, are urging the Leavenworth County Commissioners to reject the proposal. Their concerns center on the project's potential energy consumption, estimated at up to 1.2 gigawatts, and the inclusion of a gas power plant located just a few miles from schools. Opponents emphasize that the community values more than just financial gain and are pushing for a pause or rejection of the development.
Project Bluestem is being advanced by Cloverleaf Infrastructure, a real estate company that plans to find a data center operator once the site is developed. Neighbors express frustration over the lack of transparency and details surrounding Cloverleaf Infrastructure and the ultimate company behind the project. The county's data center moratorium expired last month, allowing Cloverleaf to file a new, larger plan. Leavenworth County is now exploring the implementation of new data center regulations, which Project Bluestem would be subject to, to ensure a fair and judicious process. A special commissioner meeting is scheduled to address the project.