Residents urge transparency, raise health concerns over proposed Bluestem data center

During public comment at the July 20 Tonganoxie City Council meeting, residents urged the city to seek clearer information and stronger community involvement on the proposed Bluestem data center. Rebecca Davis asked whether annexation would give the city “a seat at the table” and requested details on the financial implications of annexation, tax abatements and pilot agreements. "I would really like some dialogue to occur around that idea," she said.

Two speakers, Jim Carl Skint and Dee Carl Skint, detailed concerns about the project’s plan to use dozens of gas‑fired turbines as on‑site generation while grid upgrades proceed. Jim Carl Skint cited published turbine data and EPA methods and said turbines of the proposed scale could emit an estimated 2,300 to 4,100 tons of nitrogen oxides per year, which he described as a risk for nearby schools and senior living centers. Dee Carl Skint raised related concerns about continuous noise, water cooling needs (an estimate presented in testimony of up to 3.5 million gallons per day for cooling), and local agricultural and health impacts, saying similar facilities have been associated with increased asthma and other respiratory problems.

Council members did not take action during public comment but the council later entered executive session to receive legal advice on development matters. Speakers asked staff for follow‑up and clearer public channels for information, including how the city is communicating with the county and whether permits have been filed. The speakers noted that, to their knowledge, an air permit had not been filed and urged the council to weigh public‑health and local‑resource implications before decisions are finalized.