Emporia city leaders are enthusiastic about a pending partnership with what they are calling a “large-scale digital infrastructure technology development initiative.”
Kanza Park Place LLC announced Tuesday planning has started for a Flint Hills Digital Campus, set to be built at Emporia’s Industrial Park IV, pending zoning recommendations and final approval from the Emporia City Commission.
Officials speaking with KVOE News have said the short-term and long-term impacts of the gigawatt-scale data center could be similar to what happened with Wolf Creek in Coffey County over 40 years ago. Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas Interim President/CEO Lyle Butler says it’s a potentially “transformational” project that has been under discussion for close to 8 months.
Kanza Park Place spokesman Garrett Nordstrom says there is “significant private investment” attached to the Digital Campus. He also says Emporia has a number of strengths making it attractive to a project like this.
The tentative plan calls for 1,000 acres of land on the north side of Industrial Park IV just west of Americus Road. Company names haven’t been released, but Nordstrom calls it a “hyperscale” project.
RDA Interim Vice President Brad Kraft says this is the kind of project — and the approach — Emporians have wanted to see for some time.
Currently, there has been no comment from Lyon County. Commissioners have directed questions to County Counselor Molly Priest, who has been unavailable due to personal matters.
Emporia Enterprises Board of Directors Chair Kim Parks says the board was “founded to support growth in our community, and we believe this project reflects that mission. We are proud to support this development to strengthen Emporia’s future.”
Nordstrom says the Digital Campus is in the initial phase study process through Evergy. On water, Nordstrom says Kanza Park Place and the city will negotiate water rights, so a daily gallon rate is not yet confirmable.
Butler says a combination of available land, infrastructure and zoning readiness helped to attract Kanza Park Place. He also says this is a way to diversify the local economy.
Woods believes the development will spur additional ancillary jobs worth having in Emporia.
Tuesday’s announcement leads to the zoning process, which all involved say will be transparent. Butler says the transparency will be across the board as the project continues.
As part of this, the Emporia Planning Commission has scheduled a special meeting, including a public hearing, at 6 pm June 23 at White Auditorium. Board members will consider proposed language to create a Digital Infrastructure Overlay, or DI-O, for potentially approving the regulatory processes for possible development. If approved, the DI-O overlay will not impact existing land use. Site plan reviews and development agreements will be part of future projects presented to the city.
City officials see significant benefits to Emporia’s property tax burden, a source of complaint among residents for years. Cocking also says the city in the process of considering a high water usage policy for the Digital Center in a similar way to how Evergy handles power for larger customers.
Conversations are underway about possible major improvements to Emporia’s water treatment plant at 24th and Industrial Road, which is aging and is now facing either heavy rehabilitation project at almost $75 million, a retrofit approaching $85 million or a demolition/new construction project at a cost over $135 million.
Cocking says Digital Campus water use would be on par with Emporia’s other major water users.
Woods also says recent business closures have actually opened up available water for the project.
Officials like Woods also see wide-ranging benefits connected to the Digital Campus if this moves forward, including increased land sales, retail business and resulting sales tax numbers and construction ahead of the permanent workforce, which could be over 200 people. Another benefit: access to modern jobs.
Visit Emporia Director Matt Fowler says the project would have a “meaningful” impact on hospitality locally, adding, “The influx of contractors, technicians and support staff would generate increased hotel stays, restaurant traffic and local spending throughout the community.”
Nordstrom says the project demonstrates a willingness to enhance Emporia’s workforce.
Tuesday’s announcement is the latest chapter in a brewing national conversation about the benefits and concerns about data centers, notably with power use, water use, noise and environmental friendliness. Coffey County has enacted a 12-month moratorium to allow time to develop policies and procedures. Woods says at least some of the pushback involves “a lack of understanding.” He also says regional connections give this project a good chance of succeeding.
Butler and Kraft, however, say the project is a rare opportunity to give Emporia’s economy a major boost.
More information about the project is now available online at flinthillsdigitalcampus.com. More information about the Digital Infrastructure Overlay District and the zoning process is available online at emporiaks.gov/dio.
