Independence group files lawsuit to block Nebius' AI data center
The Independence GUARD Alliance has filed a lawsuit and motion for a temporary restraining order against the City of Independence to halt the construction of a Nebius AI data center. The lawsuit alleges the city violated Missouri's Sunshine Law through secret discussions and improperly rezoned the property, which also received significant tax abatements. Residents voiced concerns about noise, dust, infrastructure, and a lack of community input regarding the development.
The Independence GUARD (Guardians United Against Reckless Development) Alliance has initiated a lawsuit against the City of Independence, Missouri, seeking to stop the construction of a 400-acre hyperscale AI data center owned by Nebius. The community group, which also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order, contends that the city violated Missouri's Sunshine Law by holding secret, closed-door discussions about the project's approval as early as 2022.
The lawsuit further alleges that city officials unlawfully rezoned the property from residential to industrial use three years prior and approved over $150 billion in tax-abated bonds, which grant Nebius substantial utility discounts at the expense of local residents. Independence resident Kelly Garrett expressed strong opposition, stating the city gambled with residents' homes, lives, roads, and future without their input. Daniel Moorehead, leader of the Alliance, is pushing for a judge to halt construction and reject future bonds, highlighting the community's unified stance against the city's actions and reporting construction-related road blockages.
In response, Independence Public Information Officer Sherae Honeycutt acknowledged the lawsuit and stated the city disagrees with the characterization of its actions, asserting that all approvals and processes complied with applicable law. Due to the pending litigation, the city declined to comment further on the specific claims.