Concerns over the possible arrival of large-scale data centers in rural Missouri have now reached Clinton County, where county officials are beginning discussions about how — or whether — such facilities should be regulated locally.

In recent months, residents across the Kansas City region have raised alarms about proposed data center developments in nearby communities including Liberty and Smithville. Critics of those projects have pointed to concerns involving massive electricity demand, water usage, tax incentives, environmental impact, and the relatively small number of long-term jobs created compared to the size of the developments.

According to reporting by the Clinton County Leader, the Clinton County Commission recently voted to place a one-year moratorium on all data center applications. The move gives county officials time to study the issue and consider future zoning regulations surrounding the facilities. The newspaper also reported that, at this time, no formal applications for a data center have been submitted in Clinton County.

A public meeting occurred on Thursday, June 4, at 7 p.m. to discuss additional zoning ordinances that may be considered in the future. Multiple county residents all testified against. There was no testimony in favor of data centers. The meeting appeared to be mainly an avenue for residents to vent frustration and voice opposition. We will continue to monitor developments if/when actual zoning changes are proposed.

For now, the zoning board will host a focus group to advise on overall direction, while they attempt to locate funding to pay for updates to the zoning laws. Those updates will require legal consulting.

The South (Clinton) County Squawker

June 5, 2026

Author: Charles Ford

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