On Friday, the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas released this question-and-answer document following questions from Emporia residents, notably Jackie Miller:
Q. How many permanent jobs will be created?
A. While exact figures are not known and will depend upon the end user and the technology employed, it would be realistic to estimate when built out there will be 300 to 500 employed directly by the Flint Hills Digital Campus end users; this is in addition to the 1,500 to 2,000 construction jobs that likely will start in 18-24 months and continuing for the 8-10 years. It is reasonable to expect supporting, ancillary industries and businesses to find Emporia attractive to locate and invest in due to the Flint Hills Digital Campus presence, potentially employing an additional 300 to 500 employees.
Q. What cooling technology will be used?
A. At this stage, no final cooling technology has been selected, and the ultimate design will depend on the requirements of the end user. A combination of air-cooled and closed-loop cooling technologies is certainly possible and is consistent with current industry trends for advanced data center campuses. It is important to note that closed-loop systems continuously recirculate water and consume substantially less water than traditional once-through cooling systems. Even where water is utilized, it is reused repeatedly within the system rather than being discharged after a single use. Air-cooled systems further reduce water demand by relying primarily on ambient air for heat rejection.
Q. How many backup generators will be installed, and what fuel will they use?
A. The project will utilize natural gas as its primary fuel source for any on-site generation facilities. The exact number, consumption levels, infrastructure requirements, and operating characteristics will be determined through detailed design and coordination with utility providers and regulatory agencies.
Q. What are the projected noise levels at the property line?
A. Per Flint Hills Digital Campus, Community Information:
Data centers do produce sound, primarily from cooling systems and backup generators:
>Interior server halls: 70–95 dB (hearing protection typically used by staff)
>Exterior cooling equipment: generally 55–75 dBA at the source
>Backup generators: 85–100 dBA, but typically run only during testing or outages
At the property line, noise is typically much lower due to buildings, distance, and acoustic design
Regulatory solutions exist. Jurisdictions across the country have adopted proven noise protection measures that allow data center development while protecting residential areas:
>Tiered setback requirements: 200–250 feet for main buildings; 300–500 feet for mechanical equipment (generators, cooling systems) when exposed to the outside
>Enforceable noise standards: 55–60 dBA nighttime limits and 60–75 dBA daytime limits, measured at property line, with dedicated enforcement and civil penalties ($1,000–$10,000+) for violations
>Pre- and post-construction noise studies: Licensed engineers conduct pre-construction sound modeling and post-occupancy noise studies within 60 days of operation, with mandatory mitigation if limits are exceeded
>Equipment enclosure and visual protection: All cooling, ventilation, and operational equipment must be enclosed or screened from public view; landscape buffering (native trees, berms, visual barriers) strategically located to
reduce noise; generator testing limited to daytime hours only
Bottom Line: Modern cooling technologies further reduce noise impacts. Liquid and immersion cooling dramatically reduce external fan noise. Acoustic sound walls of 30+ feet can achieve significant noise reduction (11 dBA or more) at nearby residences. When combined with proper setbacks and equipment enclosure, these solutions effectively protect residential areas while enabling responsible data center operations.
Q. What setbacks will be required from existing homes and rural residences?
A. See response in next question on screening, berms, landscaping, and visual buffers
Q. What screening, berms, landscaping, and visual buffers will be required?
A. Specific screening, berm, landscaping, and visual buffer requirements have not yet been finalized and will be established through the development approval process as detailed site plans are prepared. However, the intent is to create a campus that is compatible with surrounding land uses and minimizes visual impacts from adjacent properties and public roadways.
Potential buffering measures may include a combination of landscaped setbacks, native vegetation, tree plantings, berms, fencing, and other screening elements where appropriate. The exact design will depend on the location of individual facilities, topography, adjacent land uses, and applicable development standards. Given the scale of the campus and the long-term nature of the project, visual buffering will be considered as part of the overall master planning effort rather than on a building-by-building basis. This approach allows screening and landscaping to be integrated into the campus design from the outset and adapted as future phases are developed. As site planning advances, detailed landscaping, screening, and buffering plans will be reviewed through the applicable local approval processes to ensure the project is developed in a manner that respects neighboring properties while maintaining the operational requirements of a modern technology campus.
Q. What tax incentives, abatements, or public subsidies are being requested?
A. As of today, there have not been any requests nor have there been any negotiations initiated for tax incentives, abatements, or public subsidies; we would expect this to occur with a potential end user, likely later in 2026.
Per Flint Hills Digital Campus, Community Information
Tax Abatements: The Tradeoff Explained Plainly
It is likely that a project of this scale will involve a request for property tax abatement. Abatements are neither automatically good nor automatically bad. What matters is the specific terms, how long, how much, what the community gets in return, and whether those commitments are legally binding.
What Residents Need to Know
>Tax abatements are negotiated, not automatic, terms are determined deal by deal
>Abatement periods are typically time-limited, after which the facility pays full assessed property taxes
>A facility of this scale, land, buildings, and equipment, would eventually represent a significant permanent addition to Lyon County’s tax base
>Whether that translates to lower mill levy rates for residents depends entirely on future budget decisions, it is not guaranteed
>Any abatement should be governed by a community benefits agreement with specific, binding local commitments
What Residents Should Demand
Before any abatement is granted, the community should insist on a transparent community benefits agreement, including local hiring provisions, infrastructure contributions, and commitments that deliver tangible value to Emporia and Lyon County throughout the abatement period, not just after it ends.
Q. What is the projected electrical demand, and what infrastructure upgrades will be needed?
A. No formal electrical usage has been determined. Electrical demand and infrastructure requirements will be determined through the formal utility planning and engineering process as the project advances. At this stage, the project is being evaluated at a campus scale so that the necessary transmission, substation, and distribution requirements can be identified before any major load is placed on the system. Any required electrical infrastructure improvements will be planned in coordination with the appropriate utility providers and regulatory entities. Those improvements may include dedicated substations, transmission interconnections, line extensions, or related facilities necessary to serve future phases of development. Importantly, the project will not simply connect to the existing system without review. The electrical requirements will be studied, engineered, and phased so that service can be provided reliably and so that required upgrades are identified before development occurs.
Q. What chemicals will be stored on site, and in what quantities?
A. A data center is primarily a building with computers and cooling equipment. The chemicals stored on-site are generally comparable to those used in large hospitals, universities, office campuses, or utility facilities for equipment maintenance, cooling water treatment, and electrical systems rather than industrial manufacturing processes.
Q. What type of lighting will be used, and how much light pollution can nearby residents expect?
A. The specific lighting design has not yet been finalized and will be developed as individual phases of the project move into detailed engineering and site planning. However, the project is expected to utilize modern commercial and industrial lighting standards designed to provide necessary safety and security while minimizing impacts on surrounding properties. As with most contemporary developments, lighting will be evaluated with consideration given to fixture design, shielding, directionality, intensity, and placement. The objective is to direct light where it is needed for operational and security purposes while limiting off-site light spill to the extent practical. Detailed lighting plans will be reviewed as part of the development process and will be subject to applicable local requirements. Because the campus will be developed over time, lighting configurations may vary between phases depending on operational needs, technological advancements, and evolving best practices.
Q. What is the ultimate build-out plan if all 11 tracts are developed?
A. The ultimate build-out plan for all 11 tracts has not been finalized and will ultimately be driven by market demand and the requirements of future end users. The current vision is to create a phased, campus-style development capable of accommodating multiple data center facilities and supporting infrastructure over time.
Q. What are the long-term benefits for the average citizen of Emporia and Lyon County?
A. The long-term benefits to the average resident of Emporia and Lyon County are expected to extend well beyond the project site itself. While the exact outcome will depend on the pace and scale of development, the project has the potential to significantly strengthen the local economy, diversify the region’s employment base, and create new opportunities for future generations. One of the most significant long-term benefits is the potential expansion of the county’s tax base. At full build-out, the project could increase the assessed valuation of Lyon County by a magnitude sufficient to effectively triple the county’s current valuation. A larger tax base allows the cost of local government, public safety, infrastructure, and other community services to be spread across substantially more taxable property, creating opportunities for improved public services, future infrastructure investments, and potential property tax stabilization over time. The project also has the potential to attract substantial private investment to the community, support high-quality technical and professional careers, and create opportunities for local businesses that provide goods and services during both construction and ongoing operations. Just as importantly, it positions Emporia and Lyon County to participate in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the modern economy rather than competing solely for traditional industrial development opportunities.
For local residents, the long-term impact is not simply the construction of new facilities. The broader objective is to create a stronger economic foundation that supports schools, public services, infrastructure, workforce development, and community quality of life for decades to come. By leveraging available land, utility resources, transportation access, and educational assets, the project has the potential to transform underutilized regional advantages into lasting economic benefits for the entire community.
Q. What will this area look like in 20 years if the entire Digital Campus is fully built out?
A. If the entire Digital Campus were fully built out over the next 20 years, the area would likely resemble a modern technology and infrastructure campus rather than a traditional industrial development. The site would consist of multiple data center buildings, electrical substations, fiber connectivity infrastructure, internal roadways, landscaped buffers, security features, and supporting utility facilities spread across a large campus setting. Unlike manufacturing facilities, a fully developed digital campus would not be characterized by smokestacks, heavy truck traffic, or large outdoor industrial operations. Much of the infrastructure would operate quietly within enclosed buildings, with substantial setbacks, screening, and open space remaining throughout the campus. To many observers, the development would appear more similar to a university research campus or corporate technology park than a traditional industrial complex.
