Franklin County Data Centers — Beltline, Provident, Shaw Nature Reserve

Data Center Risk

88/100

Very High

Why Franklin County is Very High risk

Score calculated from four factors: power infrastructure, water capacity, land availability, and current exposure (known projects in the county). Franklin scores 88/100.

Power availability

28/30

Ameren Missouri. Beltline negotiations with Ameren ongoing for capacity. Sierra Club warns projects could extend life of Labadie coal plant.

Water capacity

13/15

Missouri River / Meramec River / Bourbeuse River. Beltline site near Pacific wastewater facility. MO Dept of Conservation flagged endangered species.

Land availability

8/15

~1,000 acres targeted across 2 projects on productive farmland. P&Z member William McLaren owns Beltline land.

Current exposure

39/40

2 projects: Beltline (P&Z denied 4-5) and Provident (P&Z approved 8-1, adjacent to Shaw Nature Reserve). Mayor Filley lost re-election.

This score is comparative, based on publicly available data across Missouri's 115 counties. Methodology: how we calculate it.

At a Glance

The facts, as filed.

3 active projects

Beltline Energy

$16 billion, 16 buildings
495 acres, Crooked Creek / Pacific

Beltline Status

P&Z Denied 4-5

Beltline Land Owner

William McLaren
(P&Z Commission member)

Provident

Multibillion-dollar
575 acres, Gray Summit / I-44

Provident Status

P&Z Approved 8-1

Provident Location

Adjacent to Shaw Nature Reserve
(2,400 acres, MO Botanical Garden)

Utility

Ameren Missouri

Election Result

Mayor Filley lost to
Alderwoman Debbie Kelley

Opposition

Pacific ROOT Coalition
Franklin County Rural Coalition

The Project

Two campuses, two votes.

Crooked Creek (Beltline) + Diamond Farms (Gateway)

P&Z Split · Going to County Commission

Franklin County is currently considering two separate hyperscale data center proposals on opposite sides of Interstate 44. Both require rezoning from agricultural to industrial use, and both would mark the largest individual capital investments in Franklin County history.

Crooked Creek (Beltline Energy) — A proposed $16 billion campus on land near the City of Pacific's Wastewater Treatment Facility, with multiple access points along Highway O and the Meramec River along its northern edge. Beltline tabled its first rezoning application in February 2026 citing funding-agreement issues. A Missouri Department of Conservation report identified habitat for endangered bats and salamanders within the project footprint.

Diamond Farms (Gateway Digital Campus) — A second project near Villa Ridge, with 8,000 feet of frontage along Interstate 44 and 1,200 feet of commercial frontage on Old Highway 66.

On April 21, 2026, in two separate 5-4 votes at a packed Union High School gym, the Franklin County Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the Diamond Farms rezoning and recommended denial of the Crooked Creek rezoning. Both projects now go to the three-member Franklin County Commission, which is not bound by the recommendations. Pacific ROOT Coalition has signaled it will sue if the County Commission approves Crooked Creek over P&Z's denial — using the same attorney representing residents in the Festus / CRG case.

Timeline

How we got here.

Late 2025

Two data center proposals surface. Beltline Energy proposes a $16 billion hyperscale campus on Crooked Creek land near the City of Pacific's Wastewater Treatment Facility, with multiple access points along Highway O. A second project, Gateway Digital Campus, is proposed near Villa Ridge on a parcel known as Diamond Farms.

February 25, 2026

Pacific P&Z meeting ends abruptly. A special Pacific Planning & Zoning Commission meeting at the high school auditorium ends within minutes after Beltline Energy tables its rezoning application, citing an inability to finalize a funding agreement. The packed room reacts with frustration.

March 17, 2026

Hundreds attend Union High School public meeting. A nearly 11-hour meeting at Union High School draws hundreds of opponents. The Missouri Department of Conservation issues a report noting the Beltline footprint includes habitat for endangered bats and salamanders.

April 21, 2026

Franklin County P&Z splits the decision. In two separate 5-4 votes at a packed Union High School gym, the Franklin County Planning & Zoning Commission recommends approval of the Diamond Farms rezoning (Gateway Digital Campus) and recommends denial of the Crooked Creek rezoning (Beltline Energy). Commissioner Debbie Willette: "I don't think these things belong in this area."

Late April 2026

Pacific ROOT Coalition signals lawsuit. Pacific ROOT Coalition spokesperson Alison Quennoz tells reporters the group plans to file suit if the three-person Franklin County Commission overrides the P&Z recommendation and approves the Beltline rezoning. The coalition uses the same attorney, Steve Jeffery, who is litigating the Festus / CRG case in Jefferson County.

What It Means

For residents of Pacific and Franklin County.

Environment

Provident is adjacent to 2,400-acre Shaw Nature Reserve. MO Dept of Conservation flagged bald eagles, eastern hellbender, Indiana bat near Beltline site. Sierra Club warns projects could extend life of Labadie coal plant (SO2 emissions up 17%).

Transparency

Beltline land owned by William McLaren (P&Z Commission member, recused). Attorney Steve Jeffery: "There appears to be multiple meetings, closed sessions with developers." Patricia Schuba: "It feels like a gold rush."

Elections

Pacific Mayor Heather Filley lost re-election to Debbie Kelley (pro-transparency)
All ousted Pacific council members had supported the data center
March 17 P&Z meeting: 11 hours, ~1,000 attendees
Next: 3-member Franklin County Commission decides on Crooked Creek + Diamond Farms

Litigation

Pacific ROOT Coalition uses the same attorney — Steve Jeffery — who is litigating the Festus / CRG case in Jefferson County. The coalition has signaled it will sue if the three-member Franklin County Commission overrides the Planning & Zoning denial of the Crooked Creek (Beltline Energy) rezoning. Jeffery: "There appears to be a common playbook that is followed in every single case."

Sources

Reporting we relied on.

What you can do

Pacific's P&Z recommended denial. Reinforce that recommendation in writing.

Franklin County's Planning & Zoning Commission recommended denial of the proposed data center after public outcry. The Board of Aldermen will make the final call. Make sure your opposition is on the record before the vote. We write your letter and email it to every official.

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Resident guides

Franklin County