Emporia, Kansas: Exploring Data Center Economic, Environmental, and Community Concerns
An op-ed discusses the proposed hyper-scale data center in Emporia, Kansas, addressing community concerns about energy, water, and noise. The author argues that data centers are valuable economic assets that do not significantly increase electricity rates and that Kansas policies protect residential customers. The article advocates against a local moratorium, emphasizing the economic benefits and the developer's efforts to address community concerns.
An opinion piece published by KVOE addresses the proposed hyper-scale data center in Emporia, Kansas, highlighting various community concerns including energy use, water consumption, noise, and overall community impact. The author, Bill McKernan, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and former Emporia State University executive, argues that modern data centers offer significant economic advantages, support technological innovation, and enhance national competitiveness.
The article disputes the idea that data centers drive up electricity rates for local households, citing a March 2026 study by the Institute for Energy Research (IER) which found no statistically significant relationship between data center presence and higher electricity costs. It further notes that Evergy plans substantial investments to meet demand and maintain competitive rates, and highlights Kansas's robust policies, such as the 2025 Large Load Power Service (LLPS) tariff approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) and Senate Bill 98, which ensure large power users, including data centers, bear their own infrastructure costs and meet specific metrics for power, water, and employment.
McKernan emphasizes the increasing efficiency of modern data centers through advanced cooling systems, AI-based energy management, and renewable energy integration. He outlines the broader societal benefits of data centers, from supporting daily digital services like online banking and telemedicine to driving advancements in AI, particularly in healthcare. The piece also details the potential economic benefits for Emporia, including substantial tax revenues from a data center, even with abatements, citing examples from other US communities like The Dalles, Oregon, and Loudoun County, Virginia. The developer for the Emporia project is reportedly working to accommodate all citizen and city ordinance concerns.
Finally, the op-ed warns against a local moratorium, suggesting it would deter future economic investment in Emporia and could hinder America's leadership in AI. It stresses that data centers are critical infrastructure for economic growth, national security, and innovation, urging the community to consider the long-term economic opportunities the project could bring.