By Paris Rain, FOX23.com News Staff
CLAREMORE, Okla. — Residents in Claremore are voicing concerns about a proposed data center that could be built in their community.
The discussion drew a large crowd Tuesday night after the monthly city council meeting was moved to accommodate the turnout at Rogers State University (RSU).
Many neighbors said they shared similar concerns about water usage, pollution, noise, and the impact on their property. Several also questioned why Claremore was selected for the project.
During the meeting, residents addressed city leaders and the developer, Beale Infrastructure, about the proposed data center known as Project Mustang.
“What I am asking is that we take the time to think about what we are doing,” said one resident to city councilors.
Another resident urged city leaders not to “sell…out,” raising concerns about property values and preserving Claremore’s character.
Before the meeting, Claremore’s economic development executive director explained why the project could benefit the city.
“For Oklahoma, especially if you are a public power provider like Claremore, utility revenue is an opportunity,” said Meggie Froman-Knight, Executive Director of Claremore Economic Development.
She said the developer would pay upfront infrastructure costs, rather than relying on the public sector, and that the project would add to the tax base.
Beale Infrastructure representatives said the proposed center would bring hundreds of full-time jobs and partner with the community to provide opportunities for students. It also said it values potential locations based on resources, utilities, sustainability, and whether a project aligns with a city’s goals.
Some residents, however, said they believe the project should not be approved.
“I want them to understand that there’s more important things than money,” said Debbie Casida, a Claremore resident who lives next to the proposed site. “If they’re going to build something like this, they need to build it somewhere where it doesn’t directly affect the people that live there.”
Casida said she is concerned about years of heavy construction, ongoing noise and the potential loss of wildlife near her home if the project moves forward.
Beale Infrastructure said the data center would support services for governments, hospitals, small and remote businesses, agricultural markets, weather tracking, education, social media, communications, credit card processing and banking.
The company said the project would be built in multiple phases with Phase 1 beginning this summer if approved.
Casida said she hoped the community would stand together and ultimately vote the proposal down.
To learn more about the proposed data center, click here.
