Joplin council votes to pass annexation, rezoning land for potential AI data center

The Joplin City Council has approved the annexation and rezoning of land on the southwest side of the city that could *potentially* be home to an AI data center in the future.

That vote for annexation was 6-3, with Councilmen Farnham, Detar, and Copple voting against it.

The vote for rezoning was 7-2 in favor of yes.

Council members noted it was one of the most, if not the most, attended council meeting in recent memory.

City officials remind citizens that these actions do NOT mean an AI data center will be built on the property immediately. There are still numerous studies and approvals that would need to be made before any type of that construction starts.

Planning, Development, and Neighborhood Services Director Troy Bolander says he was shocked by the strong opposition.

Land owner and developer Jimmer Pinjuv joined the KZRG Morning Newswatch to clear the air on some misconceptions.

The biggest concern for many is 'will a data center balloon the cost of water and electricity utilities', and Pinjuv assures that’s not the case because the state of Missouri has laws to prevent it from happening.

“The state of Missouri has a law in place, Senate Bill 4, which I think a lot of people have heard about now, that protects the rate base from having any potential impact from this development,” Pinjuv said. “The hyperscalers have become so critically aware of the backlash towards these things that they don't mess around anymore."

Southwest Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison told Newstalk KZRG that you should want one of these data centers in the community.

"And the reason is that they're paying for your entire infrastructure. Google is going in and building, for example, because the power supply isn't available, they're front-ending the cost of an entire nuclear power plant that every ratepayer in the community is going to benefit from."

Burlison claims that these data centers come in and strike a deal with the utility company will strike a deal and not use so much power during peak load times.

Liberty Utilities officials are also in favor of the center being built and tried to quell any concerns, saying they are working on plans to make sure they are transparent in the whole process about powering the potential facility.

Officials told the council that these centers create numerous jobs and it puts downward pressure on ever increasing price structures.