St. Louis, MO, October 23, 2026 —

Greater St. Louis Inc. CEO Ron Kitchens warned that communities without data centers could risk becoming economically irrelevant, comparing their position to towns bypassed by railroads. He made the remarks at a Missouri energy summit in Jefferson City.

The summit discussion centered on economic growth associated with new hyperscale data center projects across Missouri and the need for state infrastructure upgrades to support them. Montgomery County was identified as one location where projects are part of that broader development trend.

The available information does not specify which infrastructure systems need upgrades, the estimated cost, or when improvements might be made. It also does not identify individual data center projects, their developers, or their construction schedules. No project approvals, permit status, or infrastructure decisions were provided.

Kitchens’ comparison framed the discussion around the potential consequences for communities that do not attract data centers. However, the information provided does not detail how the projects could affect jobs, tax revenue, energy demand, or other local measures of economic growth. It also does not include responses from residents, public officials, utilities, or other participants at the summit.

The discussion reflects a focus on the relationship between data center development and infrastructure planning in Missouri. The summit information describes the need for upgrades as urgent, but does not specify the steps state officials or communities have taken, or what further actions are under consideration.


Story summarized from the original created by Kate Grumke on www.stlpr.org, see more information here.

Media gallery

SignalNewsAI
About The Author
SignalNewsAI