MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is inviting community members to learn more about the growing data center industry during an upcoming public information session and panel discussion next week.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Stringer Fine Arts Center in Hutchinson. Organizers expect the program to last about two hours. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Debra Teufel, president and CEO of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, said the session was organized in response to questions and concerns raised by community members about the potential impact of data center development in the region.
“We have been hearing questions and concerns in the community about the data center industry,” Teufel said. “We thought it would be helpful if the chamber could partner with other entities to provide an information session to help educate the public, answer questions, dispel myths and give people a chance to have a healthy dialogue about the topic.”
The chamber is hosting the event in partnership with Greater Hutch, the region’s economic development organization.
Two keynote speakers will open the discussion. Paul Hughes, who manages mega projects for the Kansas Department of Commerce, will discuss statewide trends and opportunities related to large-scale development projects. Jason Klindt, senior director of external affairs for Evergy, will provide insight into energy policies and regulations that govern how utilities supply power to large industrial users such as data centers.
Klindt is also expected to address how energy costs for large consumers are structured and how those costs affect both the utility provider and customers.
Following the keynote presentations, a panel of industry representatives will discuss several aspects of data center development, including the economic impact of projects, emerging water-cooling technologies, environmentally responsible development practices and infrastructure considerations for host communities.
Panelists are expected to include representatives from companies involved in the data center supply chain. Among them is Superior Boiler, a Hutchinson-based manufacturer now owned by Watts Water Technologies, which produces water-cooling systems used in large facilities such as data centers.
Teufel said the discussion will also include developers who work with communities on data center projects and can speak about how companies evaluate potential locations and negotiate agreements with local governments.
Organizers hope the event will provide a broad look at the industry and help residents better understand both the opportunities and considerations involved.
“We want this to be a holistic conversation,” Teufel said. “Any responsible community that wants to look at different industry sectors should do its due diligence and consider all the factors when making important decisions.”
The panel discussion will conclude with a moderated question-and-answer session led by the chamber, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with industry experts.
Community members are encouraged to submit questions ahead of time or bring them to the event.