St. Louis becomes the latest battleground in fight over data centers

Updated on: August 31, 2026 / 10:16 PM EDT / CBS News

St. Louis becomes the latest battleground in fight over data centers

TL;DR

  • Tech companies are investing trillions in data centers for the AI boom.
  • St. Louis is a site of controversy over a proposed data center development.
  • Over 70% of Americans do not want data centers in their area, according to Gallup.
  • Concerns include noise, water and electricity usage, and lack of environmental impact assessments.
  • Developers claim data centers can revitalize underutilized infrastructure and keep American data regulated within the U.S.