KSHB 41 reporter Charlie Keegan covers politics in Kansas, Missouri and at the local level. Share your story idea with Charlie.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The boom of data center construction across Kansas City is set to continue, including the latest project that includes a new arrangement with Evergy for power.
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Google Mica data center construction.jpg
“When we are looking to grow our portfolio, we look for robust infrastructure, a strong pool of talent, and local partners who want to work together,” Payfer said. “All of which, we have already found and experienced with our first data center project in Kansas City, along with a strong community and local leadership that has been great to work with.”
Second data center comes with new power arrangement with Evergy
Payfer says that under an agreement with Evergy, the Kansas City region’s largest electricity provider, Google “will cover the full energy costs associated with powering both of the Google data center campuses” as part of its
Guaranteeing Rate Insulation from Data Centers (GRID) Act alongside Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.The bill would require new data centers use energy from sources not connected to the power grid. Existing data centers would have 10 years to find alternative power sources.
Hawley believes these changes would guarantee no increases in utility bills for average ratepayers.
“It’s time to make AI work for working people,” Hawley said. “We need to start protecting people’s access to electricity, to water, to these basic things they’re already paying for.”
Residents watch construction and electric rates
George Hawkins has lived in the Woodland Creek neighborhood since 2019. He can now see cranes building Google’s Project Mica data center over the top of his neighbors’ homes.
“There’s noise. At times, there’s quite a bit of dirt in the air,” Hawkins said.
He admitted construction hasn’t had too significant of an impact on his life. He is concerned about the possibility of electric rates increasing.
“I don’t know this facility will necessarily benefit me in any way,” Hawkins said. “So I sure don’t want to pay more money for something they want to do.”
He’ll be tracking construction and electric rates throughout the years.
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