Data center controversies in the spotlight during Missouri primaries
Missouri residents and lawmakers are expressing concerns over tax breaks, transparency, and environmental impacts of large-scale data center projects, particularly by Google and Amazon in Montgomery County. State legislators are proposing new rules to address public input, utility costs, and water usage, making data center development a key issue in upcoming primaries and legislative sessions.
Missouri is experiencing growing controversy surrounding large-scale data center developments, particularly along the I-70 corridor, where projects by Google and Amazon are underway near New Florence in Montgomery County. Residents, such as farmer Bill Cope, strongly object to significant personal property tax abatements granted to these multi-billion-dollar facilities, arguing they should pay their fair share and highlighting personal losses like farmland to development.
This local frustration has escalated into a statewide political issue, with data centers becoming a flashpoint in constitutional amendment debates and Republican state Senate primaries. State legislators are actively considering new regulations to increase transparency, mandate public input, and establish fair utility and water usage costs. Republican state Rep. Tricia Byrnes plans to introduce legislation next year to require public comment periods and restrict non-disclosure agreements for local officials, while 16 lawmakers, led by Republican Don Mayhew, urged Governor Mike Kehoe to call a special session to address these concerns immediately.
Previous legislative attempts to expand higher rate schedules for large electricity and water consumers did not advance. These bills aimed to extend existing requirements to municipally owned utilities and electric cooperatives and mandate permits for high water users with public comment periods. While some legislators advocate for state-level guardrails, others emphasize the importance of local community engagement and accountability. A recent Montgomery County survey indicated nearly 85% opposition to the New Florence data center developments, underscoring significant community sentiment against the projects.