ST. LOUIS 鈥 Aldermen on Friday gave initial approval to rules governing data center development after weeks of sometimes chaotic negotiations.
A series of compromises resolved fights over renewable energy requirements and restrictions on where the developments can locate, and set the stage for final passage in early September.聽
鈥淭his gives me a lot of faith that we can do hard things,鈥 said Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, the regulations' lead sponsor.
The decisions marked the latest step in an effort to grapple with an industry promising lucrative construction jobs and billions of dollars in investment 鈥 but also facing backlash from residents concerned about pollution, rising utility rates and AI-driven job losses.
The city's zoning rules previously treated data centers like other warehouses. The effort to rewrite those rules kicked off nearly a year ago.
People are also reading…
In June, the city鈥檚 Planning Commission approved the result: a broad suite of rules addressing where data centers could be built, how much noise and heat they could emit 鈥 and how much of their power would need to come from renewable sources.
All but the smallest data centers would need to run on 25% renewable energy to start, then hit 50% by the end of the fifth year and 100% by the end of the 10th, or face penalties. In the case of unforeseen problems, operators could apply for a one-time, one-year waiver.聽
But business and labor groups said there wasn't enough renewable energy available to satisfy the proposed requirements.
Last month, Alderman Tom Oldenburg led an effort to allow unlimited waivers, renewable every five years. Aldermen also voted to make it easier for data centers to expand in commercial areas like downtown despite skeptics鈥 worries such expansion could crowd out apartments and retail stores.
And aldermen decided to let medical schools host their own smaller data centers despite setback requirements elsewhere in the city.
The changes passed on votes of 12-3, 10-5 and 9-5, respectively.聽
But Schweitzer and her allies blasted the moves as favoring industry over the environment and residents. She tabled the bill before it could be advanced further.
Earlier this month, the Planning Commission 鈥 a mix of citizens and city officials 鈥 rejected the amendments along with most fixes suggested by city staff.
That in turn prompted the city's planning director, Don Roe, to call for a revote, citing concerns from an unnamed 鈥渆lected official鈥 and setting off weeks of speculation about political interference.
The mayor鈥檚 office has since said Roe had no 鈥渄irect鈥 communication with an elected official.
At Friday's Board of Aldermen meeting, Schweitzer and聽Oldenburg agreed to compromises on the renewable energy waivers: Operators will need to re-apply for the waivers every two years rather than every five, and the city will have the right to hire consultants to make sure operators really can鈥檛 meet the requirements.
Aldermen also agreed to mitigate concerns with the other two amendments: Data centers will be allowed to take up more room in downtown buildings, which could help with vacancy problems in the city center 鈥 but not as much as had been proposed. The medical school amendment was rewritten to clarify its intent.
And throughout, aldermen cheered the kumbaya. 鈥淐ompromise is not a dirty word,鈥 Oldenburg said.
Spencer added her applause in a statement.聽鈥淲e have crafted a robust framework that sets a standard for other jurisdictions to follow,鈥 she said.
Aldermen later gave initial approval to a separate bill from Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier to forbid local tax breaks for data centers.
The changes still need one more round of voting from aldermen, which is expected at the board鈥檚 next meeting on Sept. 11.
That may be just in time for the city to consider a nascent proposal for the first major data center in north 最新杏吧原创.
Officials expect the project to locate in Alderwoman Pam Boyd's ward, which includes portions of the north riverfront and the Mark Twain/I-70 Industrial neighborhood.
And it is expected to be large 鈥 with investment exceeding that of the $3 billion development near the Midtown Armory.
