Commission continues to affirm opposition to AI data centers
Ozark County Commissioners are hearing from residents concerned about the environmental impact, water usage, and noise pollution from proposed AI data centers. While commissioners are attending a state-level informational meeting with company representatives, they assured constituents they are seeking facts and exploring potential zoning and regulatory options to protect the county. Residents are pushing for legally binding measures to prevent data center development in the area.
Ozark County Commissioners are facing growing opposition from residents regarding the potential development of AI data centers in the area, driven by concerns over massive water and electricity consumption, noise and light pollution, and environmental impact on local wildlife and water sources. Residents, including Billy Schoelles, expressed distrust of corporate assurances about closed-loop water systems and highlighted negative experiences in other communities. The commissioners, including Presiding Commissioner Terry Newton, Eastern District Commissioner Jim Britt, and Western District Commissioner Layne Nance, are slated to attend an informational meeting on data centers sponsored by the Missouri Association of Counties on June 17, which Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe and representatives from major corporations like Google and Amazon are expected to attend.
Schoelles criticized the commissioners for attending a pro-data center meeting without ensuring equal representation for opposition voices, emphasizing that residents view the commissioners as their only representatives. He presented a statement detailing negative impacts of data centers and urged the commissioners to implement legally binding orders or zoning to protect Ozark County, especially given its unique karst topology and interconnected aquifers.
While the commissioners assured residents their attendance at the meeting is for fact-finding and that they share concerns, Ozark County Clerk Brian Wise explained the legal limitations of creating ordinances specifically to block data centers, citing free enterprise laws that could lead to successful lawsuits against the county. He clarified that while outright bans are illegal, zoning could potentially limit water intake or categorize specific uses. Wise also questioned the actual water usage statistics often cited by residents, advocating for more data-driven understanding. Despite the complexities and potential for division within the county over implementing general planning and zoning, the commissioners committed to gathering information and exploring measures to "slow them down" if data center companies targeted Ozark County.