By Bailey Coyle, FOX23.com News Staff
PAWHUSKA, Okla. — City leaders in Pawhuska say they are still in the early stages of evaluating a proposed small-scale data center that could bring new revenue to the community, but may not create many long-term jobs.
City Manager Carol Jones said the project was first discussed during a recent city council meeting, where developer David Buckley shared plans for potentially purchasing a large building and operating a data storage facility there.
Jones said the council authorized her and Utility Superintendent Jerry Eubanks to begin working with regional power providers to determine whether the city can supply the approximately 10 megawatts of electricity needed for the operation.
Officials have already held discussions with the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority and are planning an additional meeting with Public Service Company of Oklahoma. Jones said she expects more concrete information about electrical capacity and feasibility within the next week.
Smaller facility, limited jobs
According to Jones, the proposed operation would be significantly smaller than large-scale data centers typically developed by major technology companies. She described the project as essentially housing banks of computers used by businesses to store and manage digital data.
Because of the automated nature of the work, Jones said the facility would likely require only a small number of employees once operational. Most job opportunities would occur during construction and installation phases.
“This is not really a job-creation type of data center for Pawhuska,” Jones said.
Potential revenue for infrastructure
Despite limited long-term employment, Jones said city leaders are reviewing the proposal as a potential way to generate additional revenue. The city could benefit financially by selling electricity to the facility, funds that could be used to address infrastructure needs.
She noted Pawhuska recently completed construction of a new electrical substation, improving reliability and reducing brief outages experienced in the past. Additional revenue could help support future upgrades, including utility pole replacements, electrical system improvements, or water infrastructure projects.
“We are a small city like many others in Oklahoma that have ongoing infrastructure needs,” Jones said. “If we can generate extra revenue, we can look at how that helps improve our public works systems.”
Addressing resident concerns
Jones acknowledged some residents have expressed concerns on social media about potential noise, pollution, or power disruptions. She said the proposed facility is not expected to create those impacts and emphasized that maintaining reliable electricity service for residents remains a top priority.
City leaders also plan to schedule a future public comment period at an upcoming council meeting to allow residents to ask questions and share their opinions. A date for that meeting has not yet been announced.
Timeline still uncertain
Jones said the developer has expressed interest in moving quickly, with hopes of purchasing the building soon and beginning operations by late summer. However, she said city officials are still evaluating whether that timeline is realistic.
Before the project can move forward, the city would need to provide a letter confirming it can supply the required electricity.
Jones stressed the proposal is still under review, and no final decision has been made.
“The city is doing its due diligence,” she said. “This is not a done deal. We want to make sure any decision is in the best interest of our community and our citizens.”
FOX23 reached out to the developer for a statement, but has not yet heard back.
