A proposed data center planned on a 226-acre tract of land off Highway 142 near Thayer, Missouri, is drawing protests from residents in nearby Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, and Thayer. The project, owned by Charles McCollough, has faced scrutiny over its expected high electricity and water demands, which are typical for modern artificial intelligence data centers.
Protesters held demonstrations this past week to express their concerns, although McCollough has reportedly been transparent about the project since its inception. Community members worry about potential environmental impacts and resource strain on their rural area, which could result from the facility’s operations.
The proposed data center has not yet received final approvals, and it remains unclear how the objections from locals might affect the project’s timeline. Mammoth Spring and Thayer residents continue to call for additional information and dialogue around the data center’s operations and resource needs.