Longbine warns proposed moratorium could take Emporia ‘out of the game’
Former Kansas state Sen. Jeff Longbine is urging Emporia and Lyon County voters to reject a proposed 10-year data center moratorium. He argues the ban could prevent the area from attracting a potential $2 billion investment and generating significant property tax revenue, while acknowledging that water use, noise, land conversion and backup power require careful review.
Former Kansas state Sen. Jeff Longbine is opposing a proposed 10-year moratorium on data center development in Emporia and Lyon County, warning that it could effectively remove the community from consideration for projects during a rapidly expanding period for artificial intelligence and data center construction. Longbine said a fully developed project could represent up to $2 billion in taxable property and generate an estimated $44 million in property taxes over its first decade, including about $14 million for Emporia under a hypothetical 50% abatement.
Longbine emphasized that rejecting the moratorium would not require residents to approve the currently discussed project. He said local officials should thoroughly evaluate issues including water consumption, noise, backup generation and the conversion of agricultural land. He argued that newer closed-loop cooling systems, existing water capacity and nearby transmission, natural gas and fiber infrastructure could make the site suitable, while city digital infrastructure rules reportedly include a 55-decibel noise limit.