0ORDINANCE NO. 260638
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Sponsor: Councilmember Nathan Willett
Establishing the Kansas City Data Center Transparency Task Force to develop recommendations regarding the planning, regulation, and operation of data centers; directing the development of policies to improve transparency, protect utility ratepayers, coordinate regulatory updates, strengthen workforce development, establish community benefit guidelines, evaluate municipal revenue options, and conduct public engagement; and directing the submission of recommendations to the Mayor and City Council.
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WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that Kansas City is experiencing increasing interest in the development of hyperscale, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and other large-scale data center facilities; and
WHEREAS, data centers provide opportunities for economic development, technology investment, workforce growth, and municipal revenue while also creating significant demands on electric infrastructure, water resources, land use, transportation systems, and public services; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that responsible planning requires transparency regarding energy demand, water consumption, utility infrastructure, operational performance, and community impacts associated with large-scale data center development; and
WHEREAS, the City Council further finds that policies should protect existing residential, commercial, and industrial utility customers from unreasonable cost shifting associated with new large-load electric customers; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has previously recommended created a task force focused on data center development; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish a citizen task force to develop recommendations that will position Kansas City to attract responsible investment while protecting the public interest; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. There is hereby es...
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