Missouri Must Lead America’s Data Center Revolution

Missouri has always been a state that builds. From factories to airplanes, manufacturing has propelled our economy and created good-paying jobs. Today, the next chapter of growth looks different. It’s not only about what we produce in our factories but also the digital infrastructure that powers our industries and national security: data centers.

Data centers power artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing, and even national defense. Every breakthrough in AI or next-generation military technology relies on the computing power they provide. America’s ability to lead in these fields depends on building the data infrastructure to support them.

That’s why President Trump has made data centers a national priority, issuing executive orders to accelerate their development. Just as the interstate highway system once connected our economy, data centers will form the backbone of the digital age. Falling behind risks ceding the future to China and other global competitors.

Here in Missouri, we’ve seen both opportunities and challenges. In August, St. Charles City voted to halt new data centers for a year, even earning praise from Senator Bernie Sanders. Just days later, Kansas approved a $3 billion, one-million-square-foot data center project. Recently, St. Louis City rejected calls for a moratorium, choosing instead to keep its doors open to growth.

Our state is in a unique position. St. Louis, home to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Boeing, and Scott Air Force Base already serves as a hub for defense technology. We have one of the nation’s premier nuclear power sites, Ameren’s Callaway plant, and an energy mix that includes hydro, coal, and natural gas. Ameren has incorporated new nuclear generation into its long-term plans, providing the reliable, affordable power that data centers need.  

President Trump’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, launched by the Department of Energy in August, is designed to accelerate deployment of advanced nuclear technologies. The program partners with private innovators to build and operate test reactors by 2026, overcoming bureaucratic delays that have hindered nuclear development for decades. Missouri’s resources and President Trump’s leadership can help secure America’s position at the forefront of advanced energy.

Missouri also offers low-cost electricity, abundant industrial land along the I-70 corridor, a central location, and a skilled workforce. Unlike in other states, Missouri law requires data centers to pay their fair share of energy costs so that families won’t see higher utility bills. Communities benefit through expanded property taxes, most of which go directly to support local schools.

Projects like these deserve oversight, but blanket opposition only slows us down. Missouri can pursue this responsibly while creating high-paying jobs, strengthening schools, and attracting new investment across the state.

Data centers are more than just infrastructure: They are an opportunity for Missouri to lead and for America to stay ahead.