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Utility cooperatives and NextEra outline plan for new plant to serve proposed data center; residents raise land-use concerns
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Summary
Basin Electric, NextEra and local co-ops briefed Mercer County officials about a proposal for a combined-cycle natural gas plant and multi‑gigawatt data center campus requiring 1,000–1,500 acres; residents voiced concerns about reuse of reclaimed lands and other local impacts.
Representatives from Basin Electric Power Cooperative, NextEra Energy Resources and regional electric cooperatives described a plan on March 18 for a combined-cycle natural gas generation facility to serve a potential hyperscale data center campus in Mercer County.
Basin Electric officials said the company launched a "large load commercial program" in June 2025 to accommodate substantial new electricity demand while protecting existing cooperative members from rate increases by placing infrastructure costs on the large customers. NextEra, under a memorandum of understanding with Basin Electric, Roughrider Electric and Upper Missouri Power, is evaluating feasibility for a multi‑gigawatt campus that could require between 1,000 and 1,500 acres and would necessitate construction of a new power plant.
Project representatives identified the scale of local infrastructure the proposal would require but did not provide a final site. The presentation described economic benefits and emphasized public engagement; project partners scheduled an open house for March 30, 2026, at the Stanton Civic Center to accept questions and public feedback.
Public commenters and some commissioners expressed concern about potential use of reclaimed mining properties for the project footprint and the local impacts of a large land take. Several residents—including Dwight Berger (via phone), Wes Klein, Michael Berg, Wayne Windhorst and Lori Hammer—raised questions during the public comment period about site selection, environmental effects and land‑reuse. The transcript records that these concerns were raised but does not include extended back‑and‑forth responses or detailed mitigation commitments from the developers.
County representatives and the project team said public engagement is a priority and pointed to the March 30 open house as the next opportunity for residents to review plans and ask questions. No permit decisions or land approvals were made during the March 18 meeting; presenters indicated feasibility work and stakeholder outreach would continue before any formal proposal or permit applications appear before the commission.
What happens next: project partners will hold the March 30 open house in Stanton, continue feasibility studies and public engagement. Any land‑use approvals, permits or required zoning actions will be subject to future county hearings and votes.