data centers

After residents in St. Charles protested a secretive data center proposal, developer CRG is eyeing Festus, Missouri, as a site for future sites. It's not clear what tax incentives or exemptions the data centers could receive, would would lessen their economic benefit.

Regulators are trying to protect residential customers from high rates while still attracting large energy users, like data centers, to the state.

The 1.8 million square foot "hyperscale" data center would be the largest development in Wyandotte County's history. But residents and an environmental group voiced concerns about government transparency, location and environmental costs.

Tech companies have been building more data centers around Kansas City, spurred by the increased need for artificial intelligence. But residents are worried about the environmental impact, higher utility bills, and the long-term consequences for communities.

U.S. Sen Josh Hawley's skepticism of data centers puts him at odds with some prominent Missouri Republicans, including Gov. Mike Kehoe.

More than 40,000 workers in Kansas City work in the 10 largest occupations most susceptible to AI automation — especially customer service and white-collar jobs.

The Missouri Public Service Commission held a hearing to get feedback on Ameren Missouri's plans to build a new natural gas plant in Jefferson County. Community members opposed the plant, saying it would harm the environment and cost too much.

As officials in Missouri try to attract data center proposals from companies, pushback grows in communities where the projects are planned. One expert says the economic benefit isn't crystal clear — especially if local governments give them tax breaks.

Companies are racing to roll out nuclear reactor designs that would be faster to build and could meet rising demand for energy from AI data centers. Two nuclear companies have proposals for new reactors in Kansas. Plus: Data centers are fundamentally changing the landscape for electric utilities in Missouri and beyond.

Staff at Missouri's Public Service Commission said that regulators should reject a new proposal from Ameren, which they say would raise rates on customers while enriching Ameren shareholders.

The new solar field in mid-Missouri would be built next to the Callaway nuclear plant. Ameren has requested approval for the project from Missouri's Public Service Commission.

St. Charles officials signed nondisclosure agreements as they considered a proposed data center project in their city. The agreements were with a company with links to Google. Protests from residents stopped the deal, however.