Town hall meeting to discuss environmental impact of proposed data centers in Montgomery County
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Montgomery County community members will host a town hall meeting Thursday regarding a proposed 5,000-acre mega site for two data centers.
The meeting aims to address the significant environmental concerns surrounding the data centers and will take place at 7 p.m. at Montgomery County High School.
The proposed site, confirmed by the Montgomery County Commission, is located near the I-70 and Highway 19 interchange. Earlier this month, the Commission announced its approval of a tax break for the Green Amazon data center project, which has intensified community discussions about the project's implications.
The town hall meeting will give people an opportunity to listen to research conducted by environmental geologists and community members. This forum aims to create a platform for public discussion amid rising concerns regarding the environmental impact of the proposed data centers.
Concerns among the community have been escalating, particularly since a December meeting at Montgomery City Elementary School, where hundreds expressed frustration over a perceived lack of information and called for a pause on both the Amazon and Spade Property projects. Residents are eager for greater transparency and detailed information about the plans and potential ramifications.
Amazon plans to construct a 1,000-acre facility that will begin with four buildings, with the potential for the campus to expand to 13 buildings. Another data center will be the New York-based Spade Property, which seeks to develop approximately 850 acres, including three primary buildings, a security guard station and a visitor center.
Large data centers, such as those proposed, have significant resource demands, often equivalent to the energy and water usage of around 100,000 homes. This raises environmental considerations, including water use and utility pressures that could affect the local community.
