Key Takeaways
- Ottawa city commissioners approved a $5.3 million sales contract in December 2024 with Lightfield Energy LLC for 300 acres of Proximity Park, earmarked for an AI‑focused technology campus that includes a data center and natural‑gas generation.
- Residents Jessica Christopher, Chris Mayes, and Brooke Sheets have organized opposition, citing lack of transparency, potential noise, light, water‑use, and environmental impacts, and have gathered up to 700 petition signatures.
- The deal includes a $50,000 earnest‑money deposit and a 10‑year tax abatement of up to 75 %; Lightfield Energy’s due‑diligence period was extended multiple times and is set to end Aug 1, 2025, with a 90‑day window to secure a buyer thereafter.
- Updated information from Lightfield Energy (Dec 2025) indicates the campus would require millions of gallons of water per day—far exceeding initial estimates—and may necessitate a new water‑treatment facility, straining Ottawa’s existing infrastructure.
- Kansas Senate Bill 98 (signed April 2025) offers sales‑tax exemptions for data‑center projects that invest at least $250 million, providing additional state‑level incentive for the development.
- Community advocates are calling for a moratorium, better public venues for dialogue, and more respectful engagement from city officials before any final approval proceeds.
Background of the Proximity Park Sale
In December 2024, the Ottawa city commission entered into a sales agreement with Lightfield Energy LLC for approximately 300 acres of Proximity Park, a shovel‑ready industrial site located near the intersection of Kingman and Montana roads. The contract stipulated a purchase price of $5.3 million and outlined plans for a technology campus that would feature an AI‑focused data center alongside natural‑gas generation capabilities. The land is already serviced with electricity, water, sewer, natural gas, and broadband, and the state of Kansas has identified Proximity Park as a prime location for industrial expansion, according to Franklin County officials.
Resident Opposition and Concerns
Local residents Jessica Christopher (living about a mile and a half from the park), Chris Mayes, and Brooke Sheets have become vocal critics of the project. They argue that the city’s negotiations with Lightfield Energy were conducted without adequate public notice, leaving the community unaware of the talks until the Dec 18, 2024 commission meeting where the sales contract was approved—or even later. Christopher emphasized that the city commissioners “are not only the governing body, they’re also the seller,” highlighting a perceived conflict of interest and a lack of transparency that has fueled distrust.
Details of the Financial Incentives
The agreement includes a $50,000 earnest‑money deposit from Lightfield Energy and provides a 10‑year tax abatement of up to 75 % on the property. These incentives were disclosed during the December 2024 city commission meeting. Additionally, the commission has granted Lightfield Energy multiple extensions to its due‑diligence period, which was originally slated to conclude earlier but now is set to end on August 1, 2025. Should Lightfield Energy decide to proceed, it would then have 90 days from that date to locate a buyer for the developed campus.
Environmental and Infrastructural Worries
Opponents have raised a range of environmental worries, including anticipated noise, light pollution, and broader ecological impacts. Of particular concern is the project’s water consumption. In December 2025, Lightfield Energy’s representative Andy Talbert informed the city commission that the technology campus would require “millions of gallons per day” of water—far exceeding the initial estimates presented during the sale negotiations. Talbert warned that such demand could strain Ottawa’s existing water infrastructure and might necessitate the construction of a new water‑treatment or steam‑generation facility onsite.
State‑Level Incentives via Senate Bill 98
Kansas legislators passed Senate Bill 98 in April 2025, which offers sales‑tax exemptions for qualified data‑center developments that commit to investing at least $250 million. The bill aims to attract high‑tech investment to the Sunflower State by reducing the tax burden on large‑scale data‑center projects. While the Ottawa‑Lightfield deal does not yet meet the $250 million threshold, the existence of SB 98 underscores the broader state policy environment that encourages data‑center growth, potentially influencing future negotiations or expansions at Proximity Park.
Community Mobilization and Petition Efforts
In response to their concerns, Christopher, Mayes, and Sheets have spearheaded a grassroots campaign, collecting up to 700 petition signatures opposing the development. They have also looked to neighboring towns in the Kansas City metro area that have successfully resisted similar data‑center proposals, using those experiences as a blueprint for their advocacy. Brooke Sheets called for a moratorium on the project to give residents additional time to study the implications and to engage in informed dialogue with city officials.
Calls for Improved Public Engagement
The residents stress that the current process lacks a suitable venue for two‑way communication. Chris Mayes remarked, “We need a better venue… We need a means of talking back and forth to share information and appease our fears.” They are urging the city commission to hold open forums, provide clearer timelines, and treat citizens with greater respect. Until such measures are implemented, the group intends to continue gathering signatures, informing the public, and pressing for transparency.
City and Developer Responses
KSHB 41 News sought comment from both the city of Ottawa and Lightfield Energy LLC. The city’s communications and outreach coordinator declined an on‑camera interview, stating that no further information was available at the time. Lightfield Energy did not respond to outreach attempts made on the Wednesday following the report. The lack of official statements has left residents reliant on the information disclosed during public meetings and media coverage.
Implications for Ottawa’s Future
The controversy surrounding the Proximity Park technology campus reflects a broader tension between economic development incentives and community quality‑of‑life considerations. While the prospect of new jobs, increased tax revenue, and positioning Ottawa as a hub for AI infrastructure is appealing to some stakeholders, the potential strain on water resources, environmental impacts, and perceived lack of democratic process have galvanized a significant segment of the population. How Ottawa’s officials balance these competing interests—especially in light of updated water‑use data and state‑level incentives—will likely shape the town’s trajectory for years to come. Residents remain steadfast that any final decision must incorporate thorough public scrutiny, realistic impact assessments, and a genuine effort to address their concerns before moving forward.