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Officials weigh data center and power-plant plans, raise water, noise and wildlife concerns
Summary
Commissioners and staff discussed large proposed energy projects — data centers and associated power plants — covering acreage, payments to landowners, water use, noise, and environmental review; commissioners asked staff to seek technical mitigations and regulatory input.
A lengthy exchange in the meeting centered on proposed data centers and associated power plants that would cover thousands of acres and generate hundreds of megawatts. Committee member (S2) said landowners have received offers ranging from about $60,000 to $150,000 per acre; the conversation included several figures repeated during the discussion (references to roughly 9,400–9,500 acres and an estimate of 281 megawatts were mentioned).
Speakers raised practical and environmental concerns. Chair (S1) described water and noise issues and suggested mitigation ideas such as capturing runoff to create holding ponds: "You make them burn the entire 2,000 acres ... Any water that falls in there, you pump it into a holding pond," the Chair said. Committee member (S2) and others urged consultation with federal agencies on wildlife impacts; S2 said US Fish and Wildlife had conducted extended study in related cases. The group also discussed whether a dedicated power plant would be built solely for data centers or whether centers would draw from the grid.
The discussion touched on economic effects, including potential short-term boosts in local landowner compensation and longer-term concerns about housing and tax base changes. Commissioners asked staff to confirm project details (acreage, capacity, siting) and to check required environmental reviews and coordination with state and federal agencies before any local approvals or agreements.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 232, topfinish SEG 321
