The proposal
Beltline Energy, an Atlanta-based developer, proposed up to 16 data center buildings on 500 acres off Highway O, south of the Meramec River in Franklin County, Missouri. The project was pitched as a 16 billion dollar investment creating roughly 1,000 construction jobs per year for eight years and 360-500 permanent jobs at around 120,000 dollars average salary. Cooling would use treated wastewater from Pacific's treatment plant. The land would need to be annexed from unincorporated Franklin County into the city of Pacific.
The conflict of interest
Residents discovered that the land was owned by a Franklin County planning commissioner -- the very person whose job includes overseeing land use decisions for the county. Adding to the controversy, the Pacific Board of Aldermen learned that Cochran Engineering, the city's own consulting firm, had also been hired by Beltline Energy. The board voted to sever future work with Cochran except for existing contractual obligations, calling it a clear conflict of interest.
500 residents pack the meeting
On January 27, 2026, roughly 500 residents packed a hearing room to capacity for a meeting that lasted three hours and twenty minutes, with dozens more spilling out the back and hundreds watching via livestream. Speakers implored their elected representatives to reject the rezoning.
One resident captured the tone of the room: the issue had united conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats. The entire town stood against the proposal.
Developer retreats
On February 25, 2026, a special Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at Pacific High School ended within minutes. Hundreds had packed the auditorium only to learn that Beltline Energy was tabling its rezoning application, citing an inability to finalize a funding agreement. The developer has not formally withdrawn the application, but the community remains on alert.
A separate Beltline Energy application in Luther, Oklahoma was also expected in January 2026 but did not materialize.