US farmer pitches land amid $6.3B data center fight

A Missouri farmer is offering developers a chance to purchase his land amid a heated debate over a proposed $6.3 billion data center campus. Blake Hurst, a former president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, invited data center developers to bid on his farm in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece. The White Cloud Acres project, located roughly 40 miles from Hurst's property in Nodaway County, has faced fierce opposition from residents and local officials.

The project's valuation has led to a moratorium on development, which could last up to six months. Opponents argue the project would strain resources and disrupt rural life, while Hurst believes rejecting the project doesn't eliminate the demand for data centers. He points to potential job creation and tax revenue, arguing that developers can simply move to another community willing to host them.