In the never-ending race to keep US at the centre of all global development, a fight has ensued between citizens and developers.
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fight → end → citizens
While previously one could spot a cafe or grocery store at short intervals in America, it has now been replaced with a data centre at every turn.
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it → spot → turn
While some have willingly sold their land for the development of these hubs, others have been forced to do so by the townships.
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others → sell → townships
All of this, because the deemed "futuristic" data centres are necessary to support the massive computing power required by AI and fulfil the dreams of the world's rich.
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centres → deem → rich
One such city whose landscape is currently changing day by day is America's brewing capital, St. Louis.
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landscape → change → day
The city is seeking to reinvent itself as a tech hub by planning a sprawling new technology park anchored by a giant data centre, a project that is already facing public backlash and legal battles, according to Realtor.com.
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that → seek → Realtor.com
A city of roughly 280,000 people, St. Louis already hosts more than a dozen operational data centres, with three more currently under construction in the area and up to 10 more in various stages of planning.
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Louis → host → planning
Among the most controversial of these is the 120-megawatt, 525,000-square-foot hyperscale facility slated for Midtown St. Louis.
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facility → slat → Louis
The chosen site previously housed a Macy's and Famous Barr warehouse adjacent to the historic Armory building.
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site → choose → building
The data centre, co-developed by TeraWatt Infrastructure—a San Francisco–based company that specialises in commercial electric vehicle-charging networks—is envisioned as the linchpin of the privately funded $3.1 billion Armory Innovation District.
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that → co → District
Located alongside Interstate Highway 64, the long-vacant Armory building, which previously housed a tennis training centre, an entertainment complex and a sports venue, is poised to be converted into 214,500 square feet of high-tech office and creative space.
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which → locate → space
According to developer statements, the district project will create more than 1,000 temporary union construction jobs and 200 permanent on-site positions.
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project → accord → site
Prohibited from seeking tax abatements, the centre is projected to generate $432 million in tax revenue over its first decade, with nearly half of the amount going to St. Louis public schools.
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half → prohibit → schools
If development proceeds on schedule, construction will get underway in August 2027 and conclude by late 2029.
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construction → proceed → 2029
Supporters of the project say it will give the local economy a shot in the arm.
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it → say → arm
"Data centres allow communities to repopulate the middle class," Ron Kitchens, CEO of Greater St. Louis, the metro's leading economic development organisation championing the Armory project and other local data centres, told Realtor.com.
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Kitchens → allow → Realtor.com
According to Kitchens, data centres like the TeraWatt development are a boon to the local housing market because they create well-paying jobs for local residents without consuming land that could have been used for residential construction.
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that → accord → construction
"We have housing demand coming on because we have electricians making $80,000," argued Kitchens.
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Kitchens → have → 80,000
"Families that could not talk about homeownership now have access to it."
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that → talk → it
The Armory Innovation District and the adjacent data centre have secured key municipal approvals, including a conditional use permit and a community benefits agreement.
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District → secure → permit
Under that agreement, developers are required to contribute $15.75 million toward infrastructure, digital access, job retraining for workers affected by artificial intelligence, and environmental justice activities.
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developers → require → intelligence
However, opposition over bringing a data centre to Midtown St. Louis has led to legal action on both sides.
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opposition → bring → sides
In August, opponent groups filed a lawsuit challenging the project's use permit, claiming that the decision to grant it was made "contrary to law."
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decision → file → law
"These hyperscale data centres are not welcome in St. Louis, and the residents are going to continue to fight tooth and nail at every chance we get to stop them," plaintiff Kerry McCullen told St. Louis Public Radio at the time.
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McCullen → go → time
Fellow plaintiff Daniel Pate claimed that potential negative health and environmental risks related to data centres were not thoroughly studied and taken into account before the project was green-lit by the city.
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project → claim → city
"The city is bending and twisting themselves into pretzels to try to get this thing through," Pate said.
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Pate → bend → thing
A strong developer
In retaliation, just weeks later, TeraWatt, the company behind the Midtown data centre, filed its own lawsuit against the city of St. Louis, reported St. Louis Public Radio.
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Radio → file → Louis
In the complaint, TeraWatt partner David Lambiaso alleged that two conditions the Board of Adjustment imposed as prerequisites for the construction are illegal and exceed "the scope of authority" of the board.
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Board → allege → board
According to the lawsuit, forcing the data centre to use 2.4 MWs of renewable energy would be "practically impossible" on the 11-acre site.
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forcing → accord → site
Lambiaso also took issue with a provision requiring the city’s Board of Aldermen to approve the community benefits agreement.
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Lambiaso → take → agreement
Halting data centre development
In response to local protests and months of heated debates, St. Louis in September enacted a set of rules restricting future data centre construction and operation within city limits, reported the station KSDK.
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KSDK → halt → limits
Signed into law by Mayor Cara Spencer, the legislation establishes buffer zones between data centres and sensitive areas like residential neighbourhoods and schools, imposes caps on noise levels, and requires facilities to transition to renewable energy over time.
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legislation → sign → time
Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, who co-sponsored the bill touted by Spencer as "nation-leading,"
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who → co → Spencer
acknowledged that while the rules provide important safeguards, they fall short of addressing every concern.
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they → acknowledge → concern
"It doesn't stop data centres from being allowed in the city of St. Louis," Schweitzer said.
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Schweitzer → stop → Louis
"It doesn't prevent every single harm that could be caused.
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that → prevent → harm
It doesn't protect ratepayers from the increases in their utility bills that we should expect."
While Kitchens acknowledged that people's anxiety about the impact of AI on their employment is not unfounded, he believes the technology will create new opportunities that never existed before.
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that → protect → opportunities
Consequently, stalling local development is a losing strategy.
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stalling → stall → development
Probably, but not building a data centre in Missouri and building in Taipei or Chile doesn’t stop AI.
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building → build → AI
It just stops prosperity," he argues.
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he → stop → prosperity
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
