Susie Strauch reported at the Nodaway County Commission Meeting Thursday that Grand River Mutual, the phone provider for the area, was marking off utility lines for White Cloud Generating, which is building the gas-powered generators that would sell power to Evergy, most of which would be bought by White Cloud Acres.
Ms. Strauch also talked about the J-turn intersection at Arkoe. She said that she had gotten hold of Matthew Stein of the DOT. She said she had asked Mr. Stein about reducing the speed limit for the construction zone and was told that it was the contractor’s problem. Commissioner Chris Burns said that the DOT had told him that signage to reduce the speed limit from 65 mph to 55 mph had been ordered. The project started on August 10th, so the signs have been in transit for three weeks if they were ordered at the start of the project. “The DOT is paying for the project, so that is a pass-off,” said Commissioner Scott Walk.
Mike Wilson said that it was now six weeks into the moratorium on data center construction, and that nobody was getting any new answers. Commissioner Burns said that he had submitted 15-20 questions to the developer, the county’s attorney, and the developer’s attorney reflecting everyone’s concerns. He said that they didn’t know how much the water usage would be, because they didn’t know where their water was going to come from. “We can extend the moratorium if we don’t get answers,” said Commissioner Burns.
Commissioner Walk said that they were doing what they were doing to protect the county. He said they are looking at an independent consultant knowledgeable about data centers to help them collect information and help them to make decisions.
Commissioner Burns said that most of the discussions Tuesday with the attorney focused on the steps they can and can’t take with regard to the data center. Discussions also focused on the development agreement and permitting. Commissioner Walk said that the DNR is doing a study on the impacts that data centers would have that would come out in November.
Mr. Burns said that Benton County passed a moratorium on data center development and was hit with a lawsuit, so they had to do their due diligence during the moratorium period.
Amy Zeigler of United Electric said that if a data center needed power, they would have to provide it even if there was a moratorium in place. She said they would have to own the land in order to purchase power. The data center developer has taken out options to buy 800-900 acres, but has not exercised that option as of Thursday afternoon. The proposed facility would be serviced by Evergy.
Commissioner Burns said that the data center developer was close to announcing an end user for the project. “They all generally do it that way,” he said.
On zoning, Commissioner Burns said that the commission found out that they can appoint a zoning board before the election as long as it was advisory. He said planning and zoning would not stop current construction, but any potential expansion of the facility would have to comply with any zoning regulations that are adopted.
Asked a question about the other two data center developers who had inquired about Nodaway County, Commissioner Walker said he had not heard anything new from or about them.
Construction and number of employees was discussed. Commissioner Burns said that the developer has always said they would have 100-130 permanent employees. Commissioner Walker said it would be an estimated 4-5 year build. “They typically build one unit at a time,” said Commissioner Burns, who noted that the plan is for four buildings to house the electronics for the center along with other outbuildings.
Susie Strauch said that she had talked to people about the data center, and many are against it, but they assume it can be put up for a vote. “They don’t understand it won’t come up for a vote,” she said. If the data center developer exercises its option to buy the 800-900 acres in question, it would be a private land transaction. Details would be public knowledge like any other land transaction and would be available at the Recorder of Deeds.
Jeff From brought up the impact the proposed project would have on roads and bridges. “The Evergy project is already having an impact,” said Mr. From, referring to the substation project that is being built in the same area. “Rock quarries are already out of rock,” he said. Susie Strauch said that people are already using Jet Road to get around the construction.
Scott Wilson said that the elevation of Bolckow was similar to the elevation at the proposed facility, so any draining of the 102 would affect Bolckow downstream. He said that the depth of the wells they had were just 37 feet, which is shallow. “We don’t have the money to spend to dig new ones,” Mr. Wilson said. He noted that they had spent their ARPA money to buy a generator, which turned in useful during a recent 12-15 hour power outage; the city was still able to pump water.
The commissioners received a response from Dan Scheffler, Vice President of Development for Data Centers at Scale Microgrids, which is developing the proposed facility south of Maryville, regarding water usage. Mr. Scheffler said that the Rural Water District would have authority to determine service parameters based on its system capabilities, existing customer needs, and overall system requirements. White Cloud Generation is requesting service of up to 500 gallons per minute, which would establish the maximum flow rate for the facility. Anticipated average demand for water would be 100 gallons per minute over the course of a year. The additional capacity for up to the 500 gallon per minute limit would primarily accommodate periodic operational needs such as filling the system, rather than represent the facility’s typical or sustained water demand. Final service parameters would be established in coordination with the Rural Water District.
Mr. Scheffler, in his email, said that any capital improvements required to serve the project would be the financial responsibility of White Cloud Generating. The costs would be borne by the project and would not be passed on to the Rural Water District’s existing customers or local constituents.
Commissioner Burns said that any development agreement would mean no digging of wells, drawing water from the 102, or dumping it in the 102. That did not sway some opponents of the project. “Your lawyer is not going to beat one who is hired by billionaires,” said Donna Tompkins.
Asked about where the proposal to have one law firm represent the City of Maryville, the Rural Water District, and the County went, Commissioner Burns said that there were too many factors at work for one lawyer to represent all three entities. “More should have been done back then,” said Ms. Tompkins. Commissioner Walk said all three entities had different agendas, so it wasn’t practical.
Talking about the duties of a consultant, Commissioner Walker said the duties of such a position would involve working five days a week and reporting on what they found back to the commission. “We want someone who is independent,” Commissioner Walker said. “Property is going up for sale because of this,” said Tompkins. Commissioner Burns said they didn’t have to sign anything. While there was only so much they could do, “If they don’t meet DNR or EPA health standards, we’re not signing anything,” he said.
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