St. Francois County Residents Organize to Oppose Potential Data Center Development; Desloge Plans Town Hall

St. Francois County residents are actively organizing against potential large-scale data center developments in the Parkland area of Missouri. A recent community meeting in Park Hills drew over 50 attendees, where concerns about water usage, electricity demand, noise, environmental impacts, and the region's infrastructure were discussed. The Missouri Rural Crisis Center (MRCC) and No MO Dirty Data Centers shared insights from other Missouri communities facing similar proposals.

This community engagement was significantly spurred by Christopher Desloge, whose family was instrumental in founding the City of Desloge. Mr. Desloge submitted letters to Mayor Pete Pasternak and the Daily Journal, urging residents to thoroughly examine the potential costs and benefits of data center development before specific projects are formally proposed. He specifically highlighted the area's abundant underground water, potentially appealing to data center operators, and advocated for informed community discussion.

In response to growing local concerns, the City of Desloge has scheduled a public town hall for September 8 to allow residents to voice questions and concerns, and hear factual information about data center impacts. The Desloge Board of Aldermen is currently considering adopting a city ordinance to regulate data centers. Organizers are also encouraging residents to attend "The People's Hearing on AI Data Centers" in Jefferson City on September 16, where petitions will be presented at the State Capitol to advocate for statewide data center protections, following the failure of such a moratorium in the 2026 legislative session.