Residents urge independent studies, caution as Warrenton data center project advances

Nathan Knuffman, a Warrenton resident, told the council the question of a data center is not just a zoning application but a decision that will "shape the future" of local farmland, water and future generations. He urged the council to slow the process and "require truly independent studies on water, environmental, electrical, and infrastructure impacts" before approving projects that cannot easily be reversed.

Knuffman framed his remarks as a call for transparency and accountability from out-of-state developers and for protections for local farmers and families. "Water is not an unlimited resource," he said, adding that firefighters, farmers and wildlife depend on local water and that once landscapes are transformed "we cannot simply put them back." He asked the council to "verify every claim" made by developers and to ensure decisions prioritize Warrenton residents.

Council members did not take immediate action on those requests during the meeting. The mayor and staff later invited the developer's community liaison to brief the council on the project schedule and contact procedures (see separate article). The council will consider any formal study requests, budget implications and whether to require independent environmental or water-use analyses as part of future permit or incentive discussions.