Data Center Plan Sparks Debate in Gardner

0:00It's April 30th, this is Kansas News Today, local news powered by AI. Just over a month after folks in rural Johnson County shot down a huge data center plan, another one's popping up five miles away in Gardener. San Francisco company Bill Infrastructure, once to build a 16 building campus on 300 acres near 195th Street and South. Claire Road, details on tenants or costs are still fuzzy, but if it goes through, it'd be their fourth big US project. Bill's pitching smart features to ease worries, like building said back over 100 feet, capped at the city's 60 foot height limit and, noise barriers with acoustic treatments. They'd use a closed loop cooling system, sipping just 15,000 to 20,000 gallons of water, a day way less than some giant sculpting 5 million. Power comes from average with a new private substation, heavy on renewables, all emissions controlled. Tools aren't sold yet, especially Amanda Eisenbarger, who lives right across the street.

1:01She grew up in Gardener, came back in 2021 for family, and now vows to hit every meeting to protect her home. Even with the promise mitigations, she sees real risks to daily life out there. On the upside, it had created about 50 full-time jobs starting out, paying over 75,000 bucks with benefits, plus more as it expands. All road upgrades and infrastructure, privately funded by Bill. Their DeSoto site nearby breaks ground next month, first building done by late 2027. Planning Commission reviews it, May 26th, City Council, June 15th residents like Eisenbarger are geared up to weigh in, so this fights. It's heating up.