By Devyn Lyon, Fox23 News
CLAREMORE, Okla. — Some people in Claremore say they’re frustrated and upset over a proposed data center planned for the city’s industrial park, arguing the project moved forward without enough communication from city leaders.
The proposal, known as Project Mustang, is being developed by Beale Infrastructure. Neighbors who live just blocks from the planned site say they didn’t learn about the project until information began circulating online, long after key decisions had already been made.
On Tuesday, “No Trespassing” signs were posted at the future construction site, underscoring concerns from nearby residents who say they still don’t have answers.
“No, I’m not happy about it at all,” said Debby, who lives near the proposed location.
Kelly Boegemann, who started a petition opposing the data center, said her concerns go beyond the project itself.
“I absolutely do not want this data center here,” Boegemann said.
Lane Brown, a Claremore resident and county commissioner candidate, said while he has reservations about data centers, he’s even more troubled by how the process unfolded.
“I’m against the data centers, but I’m also against the way the citizens are doing it,” Brown said.
An animated map released by the city shows the project site is located about five minutes from downtown Claremore, inside the city’s industrial park. Beale Infrastructure says construction could be completed by 2028.
As more data centers are built across Oklahoma, residents living near the Claremore site say they worry about the strain on local resources, especially utilities.
“The amount of resources that it takes up, and we see all across the other data centers, they’re raising utility rates,” Boegemann said.
Payton Pepin, another nearby resident, questioned how the project could affect residents financially.
“What I look at is when is the rate hike coming to us for this?” Pepin said.
Water usage has also been a major concern for neighbors in the area, many of whom are part of a rural water district.
“Water, we’re a rural water district, so I’m not sure where all the water is gonna come from,” Debby said.
FOX23 reached out to Beale Infrastructure with these concerns. While the company declined an on-camera interview, it provided written responses stating the data center would be self-sufficient and would not impact local water or utility rates.
According to Beale, the facility will use an air-cooled system, which operates as a closed-loop system. Information available online indicates that even during peak summer months, large data centers using this system can require less water than a typical residential sprinkler system.
The City of Claremore has also stated the project is expected to generate millions of dollars in economic impact and will not raise utility costs for residents.
Still, many neighbors say the issue is less about the data center itself and more about trust.
“We were really upset that we didn’t know anything about it until it came out on Facebook because somebody leaked something,” Debby said.
Brown echoed those concerns, questioning why city officials signed non-disclosure agreements tied to the project.
“If this is so great for our community, why are we being so secretive about it?” Brown said.
Boegemann said the lack of communication has left residents feeling dismissed.
“It’s very disheartening that now we have this disconnect in communication with the city, and they don’t seem to care about what we think,” she said.
Pepin added that the use of NDAs raises concerns about representation.
“When publicly elected officials sign an NDA, they no longer represent their people. They represent an out-of-state corporation,” Pepin said.
Residents say if Project Mustang truly benefits Claremore, they want to hear that directly from their elected leaders, not just through online statements or FAQ pages.
“If it really is a great thing for the community, then tell us why,” Boegemann said. “Give us more information. Let us know what great benefits this gives to our community.”
FOX23 reached out to both the City of Claremore and Beale Infrastructure regarding NDAs and concerns raised by residents. Meggie Froman-Knight, who works for the city as the executive director for Claremore Economic Development, shared the following statement:
“Surveying and site evaluation have occurred periodically within the Claremore Industrial Park since land acquisition for the park began in 2002. Fieldwork has supported multiple potential industrial projects over the years, many of which did not advance beyond due diligence, as well as Project Mustang currently under evaluation. Survey activity reflects routine industrial site assessment and does not indicate final project approval or construction.
Non-disclosure agreements are lawful and routinely used for industrial projects in Oklahoma. They allow public entities to review and verify company information while protecting proprietary materials and security-sensitive infrastructure details. Releasing confidential information prematurely could expose taxpayers to legal liability, compromise competitive positions, or raise public-safety concerns. All records are released as required under Oklahoma law, and NDAs do not override the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act or the Oklahoma Open Records Act.”
We will update this story as soon as more information becomes available.
