Missouri Town Ousts Council Members Over $6 Billion Data Center Approval

Residents of Festus, Missouri have removed four city council members who approved a controversial $6 billion data center project, signaling growing community resistance to large-scale AI infrastructure development. The town of 12,000 residents voted out the incumbents in a local election last week after they Festus residents organized a grassroots campaign that successfully replaced one council member with a local advocate who had never held public office. Community members have also filed a recall petition targeting the mayor and remaining council members, along with a lawsuit alleging secret dealings between the city and project developers. The opposition reflects broader national pushback against data center projects as communities weigh environmental impacts and economic costs. Advocacy groups stalled dozens of similar projects in 2025, prompting some tech companies to sign a voluntary White House pledge addressing energy cost concerns. In a related development, Port Washington, Wisconsin residents approved a referendum last week requiring local votes for large data center projects. The measure applies to developments costing at least $10 million that receive tax benefits, establishing new community oversight mechanisms for infrastructure planning.