Name: Officials charged up for Dutch AI companys data-center project
Uploaded: 2025-12-22T10:17:56.426Z
Duration: 2 min 17 s
Description: AI has become big business and Independence officials are charged up about a proposed multi-faceted, multi-phase project that involves a new power plant and a Dutch technology company, Nebius.

AI has become big business and Independence officials are charged up about a proposed multi-faceted, multi-phase project that involves a new power plant and a Dutch technology company, Nebius.

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Dutch artificial intelligence company Nebbius has acquired 398 acres in Independence, Missouri, to construct a $2 billion data center and natural gas power plant at the former Blue Valley Power Station site. The project, unanimously approved by the Independence City Council, includes a tax abatement but does not require taxpayer investment.

Officials addressed residents' concerns regarding environmental impact, water usage, and electricity rates, stating that the facility will use sustainable design and a closed-loop cooling system. The city assured that the deal will not affect local water supply or increase electric bills, and Nebbius expects to employ about 125 IT personnel and software engineers once construction is complete.

Officials charged up for Dutch AI company's data-center project

AI has become big business and independence officials are charged up about a new project coming to the city. A private company plans to build a $2 billion power plant at the former Blue Valley Power Station. The Independent City Council unanimously approved the plan, which includes a tax abatement, but no taxpayer investment. On December 1st, development breeds development in a lot of cases, and now that we are starting to have more development in the Eastgate Commerce Center and this being a big project, I think other people will start to look at it seriously. A Dutch AI company, Nebbius bought 398 acres northwest of Missouri 78 and Little Blue Parkway from North Point Development on December 5th with plans to build a 2.5 million square foot data center on the property. There's been a lot of projects that we have put our name in the hat for down here in the valley and we've simply missed out on them just because we did not have the power availability to power their facilities. Independence residents understandably have expressed concern in online discussion about the project, so I went to get them answers to questions like what will this do to the environment? We've been concerned about it from the start, so has Nebbius, which told me in a statement, it's committed to quote efficient and sustainable data center design. The new power plant will be fueled by natural gas. North Point already cleared and leveled the data center site, where Nebbius is committed to a closed looped cooling system. To minimize water usage on average, Independence already has 20 million gallons of extra capacity per day, and there's not going to be any concerns on the water that is going to be used on this on what we're able to provide to our citizens. Another resident commented everywhere a data center for AI is the electric bills for businesses and residents double early in the data center boom. That was true when cities got locked into fixed payment plans that turn into bad deals as costs rose, but Independence says it negotiated a deal that would not impact residents. We've done a really good job of securing that power and passing those costs through directly to the company and so will not affect our ratepayers. Another independence resident was concerned. I don't understand the part where it will add 100 jobs. Well, after construction is complete, a Nebbius spokesman said there will be roughly 125 IT personnel and software engineers on site and independence. Todd Palmer, KSHB 41 news.

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Officials charged up for Dutch AI company's data-center project

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