(From the Ellen Nichols campaign)
Dr. Ellen Nichols today called for a temporary moratorium on new large-scale data center developments until the state can ensure that Missouri families, farmers, and small businesses are protected from rising utility costs, infrastructure burdens, and threats to electric reliability.
As artificial intelligence and cloud computing drive unprecedented demand for electricity, utility companies and developers are proposing massive new data centers that consume as much power as entire cities. Dr. Nichols said Missouri must put safeguards in place before approving additional projects.
Dr. Nichols, who is running for Missouri State Senate representing Jasper and Newton Counties, said a temporary pause would allow lawmakers to establish a comprehensive framework that protects Missouri citizens while ensuring any future projects pay their own way.
Key Principles of Nichols' Proposal
Ratepayer Protection
Large data centers should be required to bear the full cost of the electric generation, transmission lines, substations, and infrastructure necessary to serve their facilities. Residential customers, farmers, and small businesses should not see higher utility bills because of corporate energy demands.
Reliable and Affordable Electricity
Missouri must ensure sufficient electric generation exists before approving additional facilities that could consume hundreds of megawatts of power. Reliability for homes, farms, schools, and existing businesses must come first.
Protection of Private Property Rights
No Missourian should face the threat of eminent domain or unnecessary infrastructure projects designed primarily to benefit private corporations. Property owners deserve strong protections and a voice in decisions affecting their land.
Local Control
Cities and counties should retain the authority to determine whether large data centers are appropriate for their communities. Local officials — not corporate executives or state bureaucrats — are best positioned to understand local infrastructure and community impacts.
Water Resource Safeguards
Data centers can require significant water resources for cooling operations. Missouri should require full disclosure of projected water consumption and evaluate impacts on local water supplies before projects are approved.
Full Transparency
Any tax incentives, utility agreements, infrastructure costs, or special arrangements involving data centers should be publicly disclosed so taxpayers can evaluate the true costs and benefits of proposed projects.
STATEMENT FROM DR. NICHOLS
“Missouri has worked hard to maintain affordable and reliable electricity. I support economic development — but I do not support asking Missouri families, farmers, and small businesses to subsidize the power needs of some of the wealthiest corporations in the world. Before we approve more of these projects, we need clear protections for ratepayers, taxpayers, property owners, and local communities.”
“Missouri’s responsibility is to the people who live here. Until we can guarantee that ratepayers are protected, property rights are respected, local communities have a voice, and Big Tech pays its own way — we should hit the pause button on new large-scale data center development.”
DR. NICHOLS’ PROPOSAL INCLUDES:• Requiring large data centers to bear the full cost of electric generation and infrastructure — not shift those costs to ratepayers
• Ensuring sufficient electric generation exists before new facilities that could consume hundreds of megawatts are approved
• Protecting private property rights and shielding Missourians from eminent domain actions that benefit private corporations
• Preserving local control so cities and counties can decide what is right for their communities
• Requiring full disclosure of projected water consumption and impacts on local water supplies
• Mandating public transparency on all tax incentives, utility agreements, and infrastructure costs
Dr. Ellen Nichols today called for a temporary moratorium on new large-scale data center
developments until the state can ensure that Missouri families, farmers, and small businesses are protected
from rising utility costs, infrastructure burdens, and threats to electric reliability.
As artificial intelligence and cloud computing drive unprecedented demand for electricity, utility companies
and developers are proposing massive new data centers that consume as much power as entire cities. Dr.
Nichols said Missouri must put safeguards in place before approving additional projects.
Dr. Nichols, who is running for Missouri State Senate representing Jasper and Newton Counties, said a
temporary pause would allow lawmakers to establish a comprehensive framework that protects Missouri
citizens while ensuring any future projects pay their own way.
Key Principles of Nichols's Proposal
Ratepayer Protection
Large data centers should be required to bear the full cost of the electric generation, transmission lines,
substations, and infrastructure necessary to serve their facilities. Residential customers, farmers, and small
businesses should not see higher utility bills because of corporate energy demands.
Reliable and Affordable Electricity
Missouri must ensure sufficient electric generation exists before approving additional facilities that could
consume hundreds of megawatts of power. Reliability for homes, farms, schools, and existing businesses
must come first.
Protection of Private Property Rights
No Missourian should face the threat of eminent domain or unnecessary infrastructure projects designed
primarily to benefit private corporations. Property owners deserve strong protections and a voice in decisions
affecting their land.
Local Control
Cities and counties should retain the authority to determine whether large data centers are appropriate for
their communities. Local officials — not corporate executives or state bureaucrats — are best positioned to
understand local infrastructure and community impacts.
Water Resource Safeguards
Data centers can require significant water resources for cooling operations. Missouri should require full
disclosure of projected water consumption and evaluate impacts on local water supplies before projects are
approved.
Full Transparency
Any tax incentives, utility agreements, infrastructure costs, or special arrangements involving data centers
should be publicly disclosed so taxpayers can evaluate the true costs and benefits of proposed projects.
STATEMENT FROM DR. NICHOLS
“Missouri has worked hard to maintain affordable and reliable electricity. I support economic development —
but I do not support asking Missouri families, farmers, and small businesses to subsidize the power needs of
some of the wealthiest corporations in the world. Before we approve more of these projects, we need clear
protections for ratepayers, taxpayers, property owners, and local communities.”
“Missouri’s responsibility is to the people who live here. Until we can guarantee that ratepayers are protected,
property rights are respected, local communities have a voice, and Big Tech pays its own way — we should
hit the pause button on new large-scale data center development.”
DR. NICHOLS’ PROPOSAL INCLUDES:
• Requiring large data centers to bear the full cost of electric generation and infrastructure — not shift
those costs to ratepayers
• Ensuring sufficient electric generation exists before new facilities that could consume hundreds of
megawatts are approved
• Protecting private property rights and shielding Missourians from eminent domain actions that benefit
private corporations
• Preserving local control so cities and counties can decide what is right for their communities
• Requiring full disclosure of projected water consumption and impacts on local water supplies
• Mandating public transparency on all tax incentives, utility agreements, and infrastructure costs
Dr. Ellen Nichols today called for a temporary moratorium on new large-scale data center
developments until the state can ensure that Missouri families, farmers, and small businesses are protected
from rising utility costs, infrastructure burdens, and threats to electric reliability.
As artificial intelligence and cloud computing drive unprecedented demand for electricity, utility companies
and developers are proposing massive new data centers that consume as much power as entire cities. Dr.
Nichols said Missouri must put safeguards in place before approving additional projects.
Dr. Nichols, who is running for Missouri State Senate representing Jasper and Newton Counties, said a
temporary pause would allow lawmakers to establish a comprehensive framework that protects Missouri
citizens while ensuring any future projects pay their own way.
Key Principles of Nichols's Proposal
Ratepayer Protection
Large data centers should be required to bear the full cost of the electric generation, transmission lines,
substations, and infrastructure necessary to serve their facilities. Residential customers, farmers, and small
businesses should not see higher utility bills because of corporate energy demands.
Reliable and Affordable Electricity
Missouri must ensure sufficient electric generation exists before approving additional facilities that could
consume hundreds of megawatts of power. Reliability for homes, farms, schools, and existing businesses
must come first.
Protection of Private Property Rights
No Missourian should face the threat of eminent domain or unnecessary infrastructure projects designed
primarily to benefit private corporations. Property owners deserve strong protections and a voice in decisions
affecting their land.
Local Control
Cities and counties should retain the authority to determine whether large data centers are appropriate for
their communities. Local officials — not corporate executives or state bureaucrats — are best positioned to
understand local infrastructure and community impacts.
Water Resource Safeguards
Data centers can require significant water resources for cooling operations. Missouri should require full
disclosure of projected water consumption and evaluate impacts on local water supplies before projects are
approved.
Full Transparency
Any tax incentives, utility agreements, infrastructure costs, or special arrangements involving data centers
should be publicly disclosed so taxpayers can evaluate the true costs and benefits of proposed projects.
STATEMENT FROM DR. NICHOLS
“Missouri has worked hard to maintain affordable and reliable electricity. I support economic development —
but I do not support asking Missouri families, farmers, and small businesses to subsidize the power needs of
some of the wealthiest corporations in the world. Before we approve more of these projects, we need clear
protections for ratepayers, taxpayers, property owners, and local communities.”
“Missouri’s responsibility is to the people who live here. Until we can guarantee that ratepayers are protected,
property rights are respected, local communities have a voice, and Big Tech pays its own way — we should
hit the pause button on new large-scale data center development.”
DR. NICHOLS’ PROPOSAL INCLUDES:
• Requiring large data centers to bear the full cost of electric generation and infrastructure — not shift
those costs to ratepayers
• Ensuring sufficient electric generation exists before new facilities that could consume hundreds of
megawatts are approved
• Protecting private property rights and shielding Missourians from eminent domain actions that benefit
private corporations
• Preserving local control so cities and counties can decide what is right for their communities
• Requiring full disclosure of projected water consumption and impacts on local water supplies
• Mandating public transparency on all tax incentives, utility agreements, and infrastructure costs
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