Data Centers Face Local Pushback | Wichita News

In Lyon County, Kansas, a citizen petition to block new data centers and battery storage facilities was rejected after election officials found the signature collection paperwork improperly filed — missing notarized statements attached to signature pages, making verification impossible. The push came after Emporia’s Planning Commission rezoned land for “light industry,” sparking hopes for job recovery amid recent layoffs from Tyson Foods, Hopkins, and Michelin. But local residents pushed back, arguing data centers offer only a superficial fix for deeper economic wounds. Though the petition failed, the rezoning moves forward — and opponents vow to fight again, knowing any project still faces standard permitting hurdles. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5fbebff24b623fbd