Webster County residents call for moratorium on data center development

Residents of Webster County, Missouri, are demanding a one-year moratorium on data center construction following a public meeting in Marshfield that highlighted widespread community concerns. Kevin Runyon, a Webster County resident, informed commissioners that an attorney representing his neighbors had already submitted a written moratorium proposal, urging its adoption to allow for necessary impact and environmental studies. The public meeting, hosted by Webster County Commissioners Paul Ipock, Dale Fraker, and Randy Owens, alongside Health Unit Administrator Scott Allen and County Clerk Stan Whitehurst, was held at Marshfield High School due to anticipated attendance. Commissioners expressed their limited authority as a Class 3 county, which lacks planning and zoning regulations—measures previously rejected by voters. They stated their role is to enforce existing laws, not to create new ones spontaneously, but acknowledged receiving legal advice on the matter. Trent Overhue, a partner in Lumon Solutions LLC, the developer, clarified that their facility is a "micro" data center for high-performance computing, distinct from hyperscale operations. He asserted it would be environmentally safe, using minimal water and producing no toxic waste. Tom Houston of Webster Electric Co-Op confirmed the project's 10-megawatt power usage would not strain the co-op's 120-megawatt system. However, activist Katherine Wiltse raised concerns about potential fire hazards from lithium-ion batteries and questioned the facility's wastewater claims. Despite ongoing construction, residents continued to vocalize their demand for a moratorium throughout the two-hour session.