Data Centers, Local Control, and the Digital World We Already Depend On

In recent months, Kansans have debated proposals for new data centers. Some communities have welcomed the idea, while others have strongly opposed specific projects because of concerns about water use, electricity demand, land use, and local impact.

I understand those concerns.

Personally, I support the right of local communities to make those decisions. If local landowners and governing bodies believe a proposed data center is not in the best interest of their community—whether because of strain on the water supply, increased energy demand, location concerns, or quality-of-life issues—then I support their ability to say no.

That’s local control.

At the same time, these conversations have caused me to think more deeply about what data centers actually are and how much we already depend on them.

We Already Use Data Centers Every Day

When many people hear the phrase data center, they picture a giant industrial building full of humming servers supporting artificial intelligence.

And yes, AI does rely on data centers.

But so does much of modern life.

Our personal data is already stored in countless digital systems:

• birth and death records
• Social Security records
• property deeds
• tax records
• voting registration
• military service records
• school transcripts
• hospital records
• prescription histories
• bank accounts
• retirement accounts
• insurance policies
• utility billing
• airline reservations
• phone records
• email
• cloud backups
• streaming services
• online shopping histories

As genealogists, we especially understand this reality.

The digitized census records we search? Stored in data centers.

The newspapers we browse online? Data centers.

DNA matches? Data centers.

Family tree websites? Data centers.

The scanned deeds, probate records, and military files we rely on? Also data centers.

In earlier generations, these same records lived in courthouse vaults, filing cabinets, warehouses, microfilm drawers, and basement storage rooms. Today, the storage looks different—but the concept is not new.

It’s Not Just Artificial Intelligence

As I started thinking about this topic, I realized how many services most of us use without ever thinking about the infrastructure behind them.

Watch a movie on Netflix? Data centers.

Upload files to Dropbox? Data centers.

Use Gmail? Data centers.

Store photos in the cloud? Data centers.

Ask ChatGPT a question? Definitely data centers.

Even criticism of data centers posted on social media likely traveled through one.

That doesn’t mean every proposed facility is automatically a good idea. Far from it.

The Real Questions

The issue, in my opinion, is not whether data centers should exist.

They already do.

And our dependence on them will only grow.

The better questions are:

• Will this particular facility strain local water supplies?
• Will it place unreasonable demands on the electrical grid?
• Who pays for infrastructure upgrades?
• Does the community benefit?
• Is the location appropriate?
• Do local residents support it?
• Do elected local officials support it?

Those are legitimate questions.

Local Control Matters

Kansas has a long tradition of valuing local decision-making.

What works in one county may not work in another.

A community with abundant infrastructure and resources may see opportunity.

Another community may see unacceptable risk.

Both can be reasonable conclusions.

Supporting data infrastructure in general does not require supporting every individual proposal.

And supporting local opposition to a poorly planned project does not mean rejecting technology.

A Thoughtful Balance

I suspect data centers will become one of those issues where nuance gets lost.

Some will portray opposition as anti-technology.

Others will act as if data centers are unnecessary luxuries.

Neither view reflects reality.

Modern society depends on digital infrastructure.

At the same time, communities deserve a voice in how that infrastructure is developed.

For me, the balance is fairly simple:

Yes, data centers are part of modern life.

Yes, we will likely need more of them.

But local communities should have the right to determine what fits their resources, priorities, and future.