Commission continues to affirm opposition to AI data centers
Article continued from June 10.
Presiding Commissioner Terry Newton tried to ease residents minds about the use of water in the newer large data centers. “A lot of the newer ones that they’re building actually are closed-looped water systems.”
Audience member Billy Schoelles disagreed. “That’s not an accurate description because of the evaporation rate they’re constantly pulling water.”
“But it’s not [using] much more than a household during a day,” said Newton. “I mean, it’s not a huge amount. They’re not taking... millions of gallons a day…they’re getting better. Let’s put it that way, and I’m not for them.”
“I haven’t seen enough data to trust them with that information,” said Schoelles. “I understand you’re getting information, and they’re saying it’s this way. It’s just that when you see the people who have [data centers] built by them…they built their farms. They built this new life. They’re retired or whatever, and then all of a sudden, overnight the land around them was sold. They had no choice, no say. They’re just victims now, and that’s what they are.
“And then there’s these cooling fans running 24/7, these lights on around the place to keep it so-called protected or secure. The wildlife, their animals, they’re sick. Their waters aren’t good. I trust those people before I trust any corporation to tell me the truth… [Corporations] will doctor and alter information to promote [their agenda].”
Schoelles continued to voice concern about a meeting the commissioners will be attending June 17. The meeting, sponsored by the Missouri Association of Counties, is an informational meeting about data centers in the state. The commissioners have been told that Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe will be in attendance along with representatives from large corporations such as Google and Amazon.
“You are going to a meeting that is proponent for data centers. Our governor has already announced that Missouri is open for data centers. That’s what he wants…How many opposition speakers [will be there] that you’re going to listen to?”
Newton told the people that the agenda the commissioners received didn’t have a spot for companies like Google or Amazon to speak, despite what they had been told.
“I understand that you are caught in the middle,” said Schoelles. “But at the same time you’re the only people who represent us.”
Schoelles then asked if he could read a statement he had prepared for the commissioners. “They talk about protecting our county, our communities, from data sites. They [data centers] create a lot of problems: noise pollution, cooling fans running 24/7, light pollution. They use massive amounts of water and electricity, driving off wildlife, making livestock and people around the data center sick. They pollute water, drive electricity [prices] up for residents. There’s no positive net result for the residents of the county. I know you are going to conferences being put on by the governor who is pro-AI data centers and representatives from Amazon and Google will be present. In what capacity, I don’t know, but where is the equal time for the opposition to data centers who can’t afford to pay for these conferences. We need our commissioners to have the courage and foresight to put legally-binding orders or zoning in place to maintain and protect what we hold dear in Ozark County. This moment will define your legacy in our county.”
The commissioners were quick to assure those present that their attendance at the meeting will be mostly fact-finding. “We’re not going to this meeting because we’re in favor of the data centers,” said Eastern District Commissioner Jim Britt. “We’re going to get as educated and as informed as we can… We’re from Ozark County ourselves, so we have the same fears and concerns you all do.”
Once again the possibility of implementing planning and zoning regulations within the county was brought up. Newton was quick to point out that short of planning and zoning ordinances, there was little counties could do to prevent data centers from coming into the county. And in Ozark County it’s even more unlikely that anything could be done because of the large amount of state and federal land.
“What if there were ordinances specific to data centers, like water usage?” asked Brian Haenke, a former network engineer with Hewlett-Packard with experience in data centers. “Something that impacts the data center and no one else. I don’t know if the closed loop [would] circumvent this kind of a control.”
“I’m not sure,” answered Newton. “But that’s something we’re going to find out. Still, with all the federal and state land, we have zero control.”
“That’s true,” said Haenke. “And because of our karst topology and the aquifers flowing underground, something [people] do…20, 30, 60 miles away could end up impacting us anyway. But you have to try to do something.”
Ozark County and much of Missouri has a unique landscape formed by limestone, dolomite and gypsum, called karst. That unique underground landscape is characterized by underground drainage systems, caves, sinkholes and springs, and covers about 20% of the world’s land surface and supplies about 40% of Earth’s fresh water. Because of the interconnectedness of the landscape, the karst landscapes are more susceptible to pollutants upstream.
“Then you’re going to be living with planning and zoning that you don’t really want,” said Newton.
“...but if it doesn’t touch us as constituents who use [only a certain] amount of water,” started Wren Haffner.
“We can’t do planning and zoning just for water,” Ozark County Clerk Brian Wise responded.
Wise went on to explain that under a planning and zoning ordinance, homes, businesses and other buildings would have to be inspected to make sure they were up to certain building codes.
“So you can’t make [an ordinance] specifically in relationship with data centers?” asked Haffner.
“If we came in and said we’re going to do planning and zoning [for only data centers] …[something] that says zero data centers will be coming to Ozark County…that’s not free enterprise…you can’t completely block a business and not completely block any other businesses. They would sue us, and they would win, because it’s illegal,” Wise answered. “Now, within planning and zoning, I have seen where you can limit water intake or water use or put it in a different category.”
Wise went on to question the actual amount of water each large data center uses. “Again, I’m completely against data centers, but St. Louis has 44 data centers right now. So I wonder how much is conjecture versus what’s actually happening. …” he said.
“The big thing is now that everybody knows that they use a million gallons a day. I mean, do we really know that? Because 44 million gallons a day coming out of St. Louis, I mean that’s a lot…So, to put a level head on it, we don’t really know how much every single one of these use…We’re not gonna pretend like we, do and neither should the citizens because we don’t know.”
Wise also pointed out that the likely reaction from Ozark Countians to implementing planning and zoning would be negative. “We need to concentrate on what we can do to stop [data centers] and the whole county be onboard. But I’m telling you right now if planning and zoning [were instituted]… you would see a Civil War in Ozark County…”
“There’s a lot of the information that’s being given…I’m gonna bet, and probably win, that there’s a lot of misinformation being given both directions,” said Newton.
“It’s coming in both directions – the people for it and people against. There’s so much misinformation, and it’s clashing in the middle. I’d like to know where the truth is.”
“We’re all kind of in the dark,” added Western District Commissioner Layne Nance.
Britt reassured those in attendance that the commissioners goal in attending the meeting on June 17 was to gather more information and keep the residents of Ozark County informed. “We’re trying to get as educated and as informed as we can.”
However, Britt did caution everyone. “But the bottom line is if one of these companies [like Google and Amazon] wanted a data center in Ozark County, it was probably talked about 20 years ago,” he said. “We don’t think it’s going to happen, but if there is something that we can do and put into place that will slow them down, absolutely we’re going to do it.”
After explaining that she had recently attended a meeting where people were already fighting data centers, Haffner expressed her gratitude that the commissioners were listening to the residents of the county. “I’m really pleased to hear where you all are at. That was one of my main intentions in coming to the meeting. In a lot of [other] places, people were behind the ball, and I was hearing from people who were trying to talk to their commissioners, and the commissioners were already bought and sold. So, I think that’s a fear that we have as the constituents. And I’m hearing that you guys aren’t bought and sold.”
Suzanne Smythe, a homesteader-farmer with a master’s degree in biochemistry, agreed. “I think that’s what I needed to hear. I know you’re part of the county, but are you on our side, because I know some people in our county are all for [data centers]. I talk to them, you know, and that’s very scary.”
“There’s exponential growth in everything, and the rate at which the data centers and AI is coming on is kind of pretty frightening,” Haenke said.
“I may be 100% wrong, but I can’t see a big scale center [coming here],” Newton told the attendees. “We’re too far from all the major transport centers as far as how stuff is going to be sent [to a build site]. But that can change it 20 years.”
The commissioners ended the meeting by assuring those in attendance that they would be happy to share what they learned at the June 17 meeting during the June 22 commissioners’ meeting. That meeting will be held at 9 a.m. in the upstairs meeting room in the Ozark County Courthouse.