Data center

Ameren Missouri is courting AI data centers by building new power plants and offering them lower bulk electric rates, but their unprecedented energy demands could drive up everyone’s electricity bills.

Rock City is an underground industrial park in a cave located below a nature reserve in Valmeyer, a small town of about 1,200 people. A recently signed memorandum signaled interest in potentially bringing up to 50 mini nuclear reactors to Rock City.

As officials in Missouri and St. Louis try to attract data center proposals from companies, pushback grows in communities where the projects are planned. One expert says the economic benefit isn’t crystal clear.

As pushback grows over a potential data center project in Midtown St. Louis, residents say they worry about the development’s environmental impact and if it would cause their electricity bills to rise.

Concerned St. Louis residents made their thoughts known about a proposed $1.5 billion data center project that developers hope to build on the premises of the shuttered Armory building in Midtown.

A group of St. Charles residents started the process to recall Dan Borgmeyer on Wednesday. He says their accusations are unfounded.

Newly revealed documents outline the developer’s pitch to St. Louis to turn the shuttered Armory into a $600 million data center. While its developer says he’ll engage the public, he offered few details on the project itself.

Board of Aldermen President Megan Green says a data center moratorium is not off the table as residents complain of transparency, energy and environmental issues. A hearing on a data center proposal at the now-shuttered Armory building was delayed this week.

Alderman Michael Browning says a data center at Green Street’s vacant Armory building would create a void in Midtown that would offset positive momentum in the area. He called the plan to build a $600 million data center "shortsighted."

The Republican county executive was a guest on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.