data centers

A Miami-based developer submitted a proposal to replace a historic building in downtown Kansas City with a 20-story data center. Then they worked with a Georgia-based organization to attach a preservation easement on the building. Residents worry it’s a fishy way to win tax incentives.

The Edgerton City Council unanimously overrode the planning commission's denial of a $860 million data center project. Some Edgerton residents say the decision made them lose trust in their elected officials.

The City Planning Commission has yet to approve the proposal to build a 384-foot data center in Kansas City’s Quality Hill neighborhood. Neighbors worry the project could drain resources and ignore historic preservation

Construction began in April as Beale Infrastructure expanded its project scope to include four buildings and nearly 2.9 million square feet. One resident called it "a breach of understanding with this community."

While Missouri lawmakers did not advance bills to restrict data centers or regulate their water and energy usage, more communities are speaking out and passing their own local moratoriums and restrictions. Next year's session will bring more chances for state legislation.

Across the country, data centers have attracted controversy for everything from overuse of utilities to tax breaks. Now, some Missourians are trying to track down those details through public records requests, appearances at public meetings and other grassroots efforts.

The announcement came hours before a Montgomery County anti-data center group released a survey that showed widespread opposition to a planned center there.

De Soto Mayor Rick Walker says revenue from a planned $3 billion data center campus is an opportunity to grow the city. But one resident is concerned that leaders are moving too fast and not weighing the negative impacts on the community and environment.

A new report from Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick says Missouri is facing a budget cliff. Gov. Mike Kehoe says he thinks the state’s budget needs to shrink as a result, and suggests some nonprofits or local municipalities could fund some programs instead.

Missourians from across the state gathered to protest outside of a data center summit in Jefferson City that was not open to the public.

Companies including Amazon and Google are building data centers in Missouri amid a boom in generative artificial intelligence. For residents in many communities, they aren't getting many answers from either the developers or the lawmakers approving the projects.

Panasonic opened its 4.7 million-square foot plant in Kansas in July, but has not reached full capacity after the Trump administration dropped support for green energy and electric vehicles. Now, the company is trying to capitalize on rising demand for data centers.