Camden County homeowners and business owners oppose plans for a new data center

Hundreds of Camden County residents, including homeowners and business owners, have publicly rejected a proposal for a new 500,000 square foot data center near the Cross Creek Subdivision in Camdenton, close to the Lake of the Ozarks. Opponents, such as Debbie Wiles and Colt Wiles, who own Bowling Electric less than three miles from the proposed site, voiced significant health and safety concerns. Their primary objections center on potential environmental damage, specifically the data center's water usage for cooling and its impact on the aquifer, the lake, its wildlife, streams, and rivers. They also raised worries about the strain on existing power supplies. Colt Wiles stated that every homeowner in the Cross Creek Subdivision opposes the project and believes the decision should reach Governor Mike Kehoe's desk. While supporters argue the data center would boost the economy and create jobs, opponents contend it offers no positive benefits to their community. In response to the growing interest and potential development, authorities in Osage Beach and the City of Camdenton are actively working to update their codes to define data centers and establish parameters for where and how they can be built.