Data Center Project

MiEnergy Cooperative and Dairyland Power Cooperative have jointly inquired about the option to purchase 60 acres of land near Harmony and have approached the City to initiate annexation and industrial rezoning. MiEnergy has the option to purchase the land however, they have not currently purchased the land in question. While no specific development has been confirmed, the site has generated interest from multiple data center developers exploring potential investment opportunities.

This page serves as a transparent resource for residents, stakeholders, and prospective partners. Here, you’ll find project updates, frequently asked questions, and details on upcoming town hall meetings as the City of Harmony works closely with utility partners to evaluate infrastructure needs, zoning considerations, and long-term economic impact. The EDA is committed to keeping the community informed as conversations evolve and opportunities take shape.

Frequently Asked Questions:

A data center is a facility that houses computing infrastructure, including servers, storage systems, networking equipment and other components necessary to store, process and distribute large amounts of data. These centers are critical to the functioning of modern digital services- from cloud computing and social media to banking and government operations.

1. AI/ Cloud Computing: AI (artificial intelligence) refers to systems that simulate human intelligence to perform tasks; Cloud Computing is the delivery of computing services like storage and applications over the internet.

2. Traditional Server Hosting: Physical, on-premises servers dedicated to storing and managing an organization’s data and applications.

3. Cryptocurrency Mining: Process of using computational power to solve complex algorithms, validating transitions and earning digital currency as a reward.

Modular Data Center:

-Average 1-10 acres

-Minimal energy usage

-Air-cooled or water-cooled

Edge Data Center:

-Average 10-30 acres

-Moderate energy usage

-Air-cooled or water-cooled

Hyperscale or Enterprise:

-50 plus acres

-Higher energy use

-Usually water-cooled

-Often requires local grid upgrades for reliability

1. Gas Stations: Track fuel levels and predict demand.

2. Childcare Centers: Securely Store attendance records and parent communications online.

3. Schools: Run e-learning platforms and student data systems

4. Grocery Stores: Manage inventory and online orders with analytics.

5. Grocery Stores: Manage inventory and online orders with analytics.

6. Hospitals: Patient data, imaging systems, and other critical equipment can operate in the cloud.

7. Homeowners: Security systems, smart appliances, internet, gaming, streaming, etc.

No. MiEnergy and Dairyland Power have not purchased the land at this time. They do, however, hold an option to purchase approximately 60 acres if the annexation and rezoning process is approved.

No. There is no formal project before the City at this time. To ensure transparency and provide residents with general information, the Harmony EDA has scheduled an informational session on data centers for Tuesday, October 7th at 6:00PM at the Harmony Community Center. This session is intended to help the public learn more about data centers overall.

No. While it is common for EDAs and cities to sign NDAs during certain stages of project discussions, there is currently no NDA in place for the City of Harmony or its council members regarding the potential project.

October 7th Town Hall Meeting:

The October 7th Town Hall Meeting is an informational session. While it is officially called a special session for the Economic Development Authority (EDA) Board, City Council, and Planning & Zoning Board, that designation is only to allow those boards to participate in the discussion and Q&A portion without violating open meeting laws. No decisions will be made at this meeting; it is strictly informational.

October 14th Public Hearing:

The October 14th Public Hearing is a formal hearing limited to the proposed annexation of 60 acres of land as industrial. This hearing is not to approve or allow any data center project. It is only to consider annexing the land. At this time, the Planning & Zoning Board has not made any decisions regarding the regulation of data centers.

1. Ensure reliable energy grid

2. Ensure infrastructure can support planned development

3. Be aware of local development standards

4. Proper screening

5. Seek community partners

6. Talent and technology attraction

Job Creation: Construction phase brings temporary jobs for contractors, electricians, and suppliers. Ongoing operations create high-paying technical and maintenance positions. The number of permanent full-time jobs is relatively small compared to the scale of the investment.

Tax Revenue: Data centers tend contribute significantly to local property and business tax bases therefore supporting schools, infrastructure, and municipal services.

Economic Diversification: Reduces reliance on traditional industries by adding a technology-driven sector. May attract related businesses.

Access to Renewable Energy: Many rural areas are near wind, solar, or hydro resources, aligning with sustainability goals and potentially lowering long-term energy costs.

Energy Consumption: Even small facilities can consume as much electricity as thousands of homes.

Water Usage: Cooling systems may require millions of gallons of water annually.

Environmental Concerns: Diesel backup generators and HVAC systems can contribute to noise and air pollution.