Kansas Data Center News

Jun 24, 2026

Construction employment rises in 30 states over past year, AGC reports

The Associated General Contractors of America reported that construction employment increased in 30 states and the District of Columbia between May 2025 and May 2026.

Main announcement: AGC reported state construction employment increased in 30 states and D.C. between May 2025 and May 2026; Texas added 18,700 jobs (2.1%), North Carolina added 13,600, Wisconsin added 9,000, and Wisconsin posted the largest percentage increase (6.2%); California recorded the largest annual decline at 13,100 jobs (−1.5%).
Monthly detail and risks: From April to May, construction employment increased in 23 states and D.C., declined in 22 states, and was unchanged in 5 states; monthly leaders included Texas (+3,600) and Wisconsin (+2,900). AGC officials Ken Simonson and Jeffrey D. Shoaf cautioned that opposition to data center projects and uncertainty over federal transportation funding pose threats to future construction job growth.

Jun 24, 2026

20MW data center proposed in Starbucks' Seattle HQ building in Washington

Colossus Data Center Advisors has filed an application to develop a sub-20MW data center at 2401 Utah Ave. S (the Starbucks Center) in Seattle.

Project filing: Colossus submitted a conceptual site plan to the City of Seattle proposing a sub-20MW data center that would occupy 20,000 sq ft in a six-story portion and 25,600 sq ft in the nine-story main building of the Starbucks Center at 2401 Utah Ave. S; no tenant has been secured and the submission was described as a feasibility gauge.
Background and context: The space is a former Amazon Fresh retail/distribution site (Amazon exited ~2024); the Starbucks Center totals 1.8 million sq ft and is owned by Nitze‑Stagen & Co. The proposed 20MW size would sit below Seattle’s newly introduced data center moratorium threshold; Colossus did not respond to press requests and has previously pursued (and dropped) other regional projects.

Jun 12, 2026

Panasonic to convert Kansas EV battery factory for data centre applications

Panasonic has announced plans to repurpose its Kansas EV battery cell plant to produce batteries for data centre applications beginning Q3 2029.

Main announcement: Panasonic will convert its Kansas (De Soto) EV battery factory to produce batteries for data centre applications, starting Q3 2029; it also intends to repurpose EV battery production lines in Japan and expand module plants in Mexico for data-centre BESS. Panasonic will allocate JP¥350 billion (US$2.18 billion) to its Energy division as part of a broader US$3.12 billion investment in AI infrastructure across fiscal years 2026–2028. The Kansas factory opened on 14 July 2025 and Panasonic noted a planned ~32GWh annual production capacity there (Nevada + Kansas ~73GWh combined).
Background and related details: The move follows slower-than-expected EV adoption and FEOC / OBBBA restrictions; other industry actions cited include Ultium Cells repurposing its Tennessee facility to LFP ESS cells, LG ES converting Michigan EV lines to ~17GWh BESS capacity, and expansions by Samsung SDI and SK On in the US. Separately, A123 and Dukosi are collaborating on a PoC high-capacity BESS combining 587Ah prismatic LFP cells with Dukosi’s cell monitoring and a Nuvation-designed BMS.

Jun 11, 2026

Sen. Cotton Alleges Chinese Influence Behind U.S. Data Center Backlash, Demands DOJ Probe

Sen. Tom Cotton has asked the Department of Justice to investigate alleged foreign influence efforts targeting U.S. AI infrastructure and domestic opposition to data center construction.

Main action: Sen. Tom Cotton sent a June 10 letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting a DOJ probe into what he describes as “a network of foreign actors, led by the Chinese Communist Party,” and alleges U.S. nonprofits funded by Shanghai-based Neville Roy Singham have channeled money into domestic advocacy opposing data center development.
Background and details:Beijing is reported to be preparing a ~$295 billion, five-year plan to finance a nationwide network of data centers (state-owned telecom companies to operate many facilities); an Ipsos poll found 64% oppose rapid AI data center construction, 77% worry about higher electricity prices, and 57% would oppose a data center in their own community. The article also cites Sen. Bernie Sanders’ recent panel (including a Tsinghua University professor) and his proposed temporary federal moratorium on new data center construction until grid and environmental impacts are studied.

Jun 3, 2026

Arkansas County’s Data Center Moratorium Failed Over Vote Miscount

Pulaski County Quorum Court’s proposed yearlong moratorium on data center development will not take effect after officials determined the vote had been miscounted.

County Clerk Terri Hollingsworth said the measure received 8 votes, short of the 10 needed for passage (the original count showed 10 votes). The ordinance was originally sponsored by Justice of the Peace Julie Blackwood, who plans to reintroduce it as soon as she can. The failed ordinance included an exemption for AVAIO Digital Leo.
AVAIO Digital Leo is a planned data center near Wrightsville; project manager Thomas Nesel said the center’s daily water demand would be about 200,000 gallons during warmer months and it would initially require 150 megawatts, with demand estimated to reach 1 gigawatt as the facility grows. Republican Justice of the Peace Phil Stowers supported the exemption, saying the company had “spent a heck of a lot of money to invest in this community.” The article also notes similar local actions: Denver passed a yearlong moratorium and Minneapolis passed a six-month moratorium on new data centers.

Jun 1, 2026 · Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

Targeted Pressure: How Chinese Manufacturing Competition Impacts US States

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has published a report finding Chinese industrial policy is reshaping global manufacturing and harming industries across every U.S. state.

Main finding & method: The ITIF report (June 1, 2026) analyzes one “national power industry” per state using County Business Patterns employment data, HS/SITC export proxies, and global market-share series to conclude that state-backed Chinese subsidies, export pushes, and overcapacity are driving down prices and pressuring U.S. producers in sectors such as semiconductors, batteries, aircraft, and fabricated metals.
Key facts, numbers, and timelines:China plans ~$150 billion in semiconductor investment through 2030 vs. $52 billion under the U.S. CHIPS funding; the report cites $63.3 billion Chinese semiconductor spending in H1 2025, TSMC’s $165 billion U.S. investment announcement, GE Appliances’ $490 million Appliance Park investment (2025), and state/national export shares and HS-code trade series used throughout the analyses.

May 21, 2026

Google Pledges Power, Ratepayer Protections in $15B Missouri Data Center Expansion

Google announced it will invest $15 billion in Missouri infrastructure and build a new New Florence data center while contracting to bring more than 1 GW of new generation capacity to the state.

Main announcement: Google will invest $15 billion in Missouri infrastructure for a New Florence data center, pay for all power used by the new facility, cover infrastructure costs directly driven by its operations, and has committed to bring more than 1 GW of new generation capacity to Missouri; Google also entered a Capacity Commitment Framework (CCF) with Ameren that moved to support development of more than 500 MW of additional capacity (it is unclear whether the 500 MW is included within the 1 GW total). The CCF has been embedded in a PSC-approved tariff (Nov. 24, 2025) signed by Google, Ameren Missouri, Evergy Metro, Evergy Missouri West, the Sierra Club, Renew Missouri, and Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers, imposing 12-to-17-year minimum service contracts, collateral equal to two years of minimum bills, and an 80% minimum monthly demand charge.
Background and related commitments: Google announced a $20 million Energy Impact Fund for home weatherization in counties around Kansas City and New Florence and is funding a Laborers and Contractors Training Center to train more than 2,300 construction laborers (including 1,500 apprentices) over the next two years; Google has executed 1.17 GW of 20-year PPAs with Clearway (Jan 2026), signed a hydropower framework with Brookfield (contemplating up to 3 GW nationally), and has contracted for more than 22 GW of clean energy since 2010. Ameren reported 2.2 GW of signed energy services agreements (ESAs) as of February and 3.4 GW of construction agreements in Missouri, with more than 5 GW of new generation resources planned through 2030 (including two 800-MW simple-cycle gas plants and a 2,100-MW combined-cycle plant planned for 2031).

May 19, 2026

Aureon and Partners Deliver 100-Terabit Route for the AI Era

Aureon has announced the delivery of a new 100 Tb long-haul transport route from Ellendale, North Dakota to Chicago, Illinois, built with partners t3 Broadband, Nokia, and Midco, going live in July 2026 and scalable to 400 Tb.

Main announcement: Aureon delivered a 100 Tb long-haul transport route linking Ellendale, ND → Chicago, IL, going live July 2026, designed to scale to 400 Tb, with Aureon managing ongoing support and maintenance; partners on the build are t3 Broadband, Nokia, and Midco.
Background and details: The deployment targets large-scale AI and cloud workloads, emphasizes low-latency fiber corridor across the Midwest (cities listed include Ellendale, Des Moines, Davenport, Chicago), cites 5 premier partners, and includes partner statements on coherent optical technology, lit solutions using Midco’s fiber, and network integration work by t3 Broadband.

May 14, 2026

Record Power Burn Expected This Summer as Coal Retirements and Data Centers Drive Gas Demand

The Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA) released its Summer Outlook on May 13, forecasting record U.S. natural gas supply of 117 Bcf/d while warning that rising LNG exports, data center load, industrial activity, and power generation will tighten storage and push power burn to record levels.

Main announcement: NGSA/EVA projects total U.S. supply of 117 Bcf/d (including 111.7 Bcf/d dry gas) and total demand of 108.7 Bcf/d this summer; power burn is forecast at 40.3 Bcf/d (up 2.0 Bcf/d), and end-of-summer storage is projected near 3,662 Bcf (about 106 Bcf below the five-year average). The report was issued as the Summer 2026 Natural Gas Market Outlook (May 13) prepared by EVA for NGSA.
Background and details: The outlook identifies LNG exports rising 4.3 Bcf/d to 19.9 Bcf/d (new capacity including Plaquemines LNG, Corpus Christi Stage 3, Golden Pass Train 1), notes data center capacity growing from 44 GW (2025) to 55 GW (2026) and to 74 GW (2027) (Oracle 1.2-GW Stargate, Meta 1-GW Prometheus, Google $40B Texas commitment), and documents industrial project additions (63 completed projects ~1.99 Bcf/d and $104.3 billion investment; 20 planned projects adding ~1.98 Bcf/d and $44.3 billion investment through 2030). The note highlights permitting and infrastructure policy actions (Trump July 2025 executive order, DOE site openings, SPEED Act House passage Dec 18, 2025, FERC rule changes Oct 2025) and recent pipeline developments (Williams NESE FERC reauthorization Aug 2025; ground-breaking April 2026).

May 12, 2026

Case Study – Norwalk Sportsplex

Aureon partnered with the Norwalk Sportsplex development team to design and install fiber during the groundwork phase, delivering full site coverage and enabling internet activation within days of tenant move-in.

Main action: Aureon installed fiber before concrete was poured, achieving 100% site coverage, pre-wired buildings, enabling tenant activation within days, and avoiding $10K+ in excavation/rework costs. It coordinated trenching and conduit placement directly with construction crews to embed connectivity into the build schedule.
Background & details: The site previously had no existing fiber. The deployment covered 4 sectors: Sports, Retail, Restaurant, Hotel, resulted in 0 excavation required, and produced an “internet-ready“ leasing advantage for tenants.

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