FOMO
The pause on data centers was extended by the Sedgwick County Commissioners until December. This pause, if used appropriately, will allow for future steps to be data driven, future-focused, and address community concerns. It will be more important than ever for the public to stay involved and provide input in this process.
Many data centers rely on political pressures, secrecy, false sense of urgency, and capitalize on the fear of missing out on returns that are often exaggerated and minimizing future impacts on the community.
The push for a longer moratorium is not a partisan issue. It is about protecting our farmland, our water, and our children’s future.
During the meeting, it was asked if there were any pending applications from developers. While there are no current applications, there has been interest expressed by several companies. Earlier this year, several data center companies purchased more than 1,000 acres of farmland in western Sedgwick County. The information surrounding the sales is limited because of non-disclosures. Monarch Energy purchased more than 300 acres (215th West and 183rd West), NextEra signed option agreements on 800 acres (311th Street West and 279th West), and Prairie Digital Campus, LLC purchased 300 acres (S. Tyler Rd and 63rd Street South).
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