Background: Rural Missouri is being targeted by developers to build very large data centers and related facilities such as battery energy storage systems (BESS). These facilities can consume very large amounts of electricity and water in areas where infrastructure is not built out for these uses. In some documented cases, large projects have been approved by local government with no public input and with very little understanding or study of the impacts on the surrounding areas, including the impact on the electrical grid and the potential costs to consumers to pay for upgrades. This is particularly true in rural counties with no planning and zoning departments, such as Phelps County.

Why should you sign and why now? There are now known instances of land owners in Phelps County being contacted about selling their property for one of these types of facilities. Now is the time to pause and gain a better understanding of how this type of development may affect our region and allow the public to provide input. Other counties in Missouri similar in size and governance have implemented 6 month moratoriums with the option to extend to another 6 months. These counties include Webster and Nodaway.