A 300-acre data center campus in Gardener, Kansas is being proposed by hyperscale developer Beale Infrastructure. The firm noted on its website that the Gardener data center project is a planned multi-building data center campus. Furthermore, it is located in eastern Gardener, Kansas near the northeast corner of 191^st Street and South Clare Road. The website also notes the campus will include up to 16 data halls across multiple buildings on the development site.

“The campus is designed with substantial setbacks, controlled lighting, and sound mitigation measures to maintain compatibility with surrounding properties,” the website says. Moreover, it notes the project will be served by Evergy and include on-site substations as well as a new Evergy substation to strengthen regional grid reliability and resiliency.

According to Beale, the proposed data center will operate on a closed-loop system. It is also estimated to use up to 20,000 gallons of water per day. For comparison, hyperscale data centers that do not use a closed-loop system can consume up to five million gallons of water per day.

Other Projects

Various data center campuses are advancing all across the United States with tech companies such as Google aiming to stay ahead of the pack. Google is currently developing a $1bn data center campus dubbed “Project Hawk” in Mesa, Arizona. Local officials note the project forms part of ongoing development within the Elliot Road Technology Corridor. Moreover, the facility is planned to support data processing and related operations as part of broader infrastructure expansion activities in the area.

Outlook on the Gardener Data Center Campus by Beale Infrastructure

The proposed Gardener data center campus by Beale Infrastructure is already facing immediate backlash from the community. A community group, “NO data center in Gardner Edgerton,” has already been formed to voice opposition to data centers being built in the area. The website says the facility will use backup generators, which are known to emit a dangerous and toxic chemical called PM2.5.

However, The Environmental Protection Agency has guidelines to regulate PM2.5 emissions. However, evidence suggests there is no safe level of PM2.5. Council President Mark Baldwin made a post on Facebook about the proposed data center. He urged the community to “get the facts,” while also saying that he is not at liberty to share any details. “At this point in time, what’s being stated all over social media is conjecture,” he said on Facebook.

“Many of you have reached out to me but at this point I’m not at liberty to share the details of the negotiations because they’re ongoing and haven’t been presented at an official public forum.” He also he already met with the developer—and will meet with the developer again to work through the details. Despite this, it is unclear when the city entered into discussions about the proposed data center.

FOX4, however, notes that that on the city council’s April 20 meeting, meeting, the agenda shows that council members went into a closed executive session at 8:10 p.m. to “discuss matters of attorney-client privilege relating to data centers.” When they came out of closed session at 8:30 p.m., the agenda said all councilmembers voted in favor of the motion. Nonetheless, an in-person community forum will be held at Wheatridge Middle School on May 13 at 7 p.m.

Project Overview

• Project Name: Gardner Data Center Campus
• Project Type: Hyperscale data center campus
• Site Area: ~300 acres
• Purpose: Multi-building digital infrastructure development
• Status: Proposed; early-stage discussions

Key Stakeholders

• Developer: Beale Infrastructure
• Utility Provider: Evergy
• Local Authority: Gardner City Council
• Community Group: NO Data Center in Gardner Edgerton

Location

• Site: Near 191st Street & South Clare Road
• City: Gardner
• State: Kansas
• Country: United States

Scope

• Up to 16 data halls across multiple buildings
• Also on-site substations and new grid infrastructure
• Closed-loop cooling system with reduced water use

Funding / Delivery Model

• Privately developed hyperscale project
• Utility-supported power infrastructure (Evergy)
• Also phased campus development approach

Status

• Proposal stage
• Ongoing negotiations with city officials
• Also community forum scheduled (May 13)

Key Risks & Challenges

• Strong community opposition
• Environmental concerns (emissions, water use)
• Transparency and also public engagement issues

Strategic Significance

• Expands regional data center capacity
• Strengthens local grid infrastructure
• It also supports growing demand for digital services

Environmental & Community Factors

• Estimated water use ~20,000 gallons/day (closed-loop)
• Backup generators and emissions concerns (PM2.5)
• Also noise, lighting, and setback mitigation measures included