Leavenworth County residents protest proposed data center, push for stricter regulations

Leavenworth County, Kansas, is experiencing significant community pushback against a proposed hyperscale data center, referred to as "Project Bluestem," which aims to develop over 1,000 acres south of Tonganoxie. The opposition intensified after a 90-day countywide moratorium on data center development expired this week.

Around 100 residents packed a county planning meeting, voicing concerns about the potential impacts of the data center, including noise, water usage, and health. Spearheaded by groups like the Tongie Data Center WatchDog, residents urged the planning commission for stricter regulatory language to protect their communities. In response to this pressure, the planning commission voted 8-1 to take a second look at the proposed regulations, with Commissioner Andrew Gribble casting the sole dissenting vote, warning that the delay could allow an application to proceed without adequate controls.

The final decision on data center permits rests with the five-person county commission, and their vote is not bound by the planning commission's recommendations. State-level politicians are also divided on data center policy. Governor Laura Kelly supports local control, while State Senators Ty Masterson and Cindy Holscher, who initially backed Senate Bill 98 to incentivize hyperscale data centers in Kansas, now hold different positions; Holscher advocates for a statewide pause, and Masterson maintains that local governments should make the ultimate decision within state guardrails. The developers of Project Bluestem have not yet submitted a formal permit request.