Data center profile · South of I-44 between Highway 100, St. Mary's Road and Robertsville Road, near Gray Summit and Villa Ridge, Franklin County, Missouri

Gateway Digital Campus (Diamond Farms)

Provident Data Centers' 13-building plan on 573 acres near Gray Summit, Missouri, rezoned Sept. 2026 and sued in October; Ameren plans a 1,000 MW hookup.

Rezoned, in court. Franklin County approved the rezonings and a new data-center ordinance on Sept. 15, 2026, and lawsuits filed in Oct. 2026 seek to overturn them. No tenant, site plan, power contract or developer MW figure is on record.
573 acres
rezoned for the campus
plus a 39.5-acre companion parcel
1,000 MW
load addition in Ameren's filed plan for 'Project Diamond'
utility planning figure, matched to this campus by name and location; not a contract
13
buildings in the developer's plan
half the site kept as green space (company)
$50M+
annual tax revenue the developer claims
company claim
OperatorProvident Data Centers (applicant, per press); landowners Diamond Farms, LLC and Diamond 66, LLC
CustomerNone named
First building in serviceOur estimate: 2029 or later (no dated power path yet).
Next stepCourt challenges to the rezonings and ordinance pending; no hearing date on record
Power

Power and the grid

None energized or contracted yet

Ameren Missouri grid, new 345 kV substationUtility plan only
1,000 MW
utility load in Ameren's 2026 resource plan for 'Project Diamond'; substation in service Dec. 2030 (plan); no service agreement Utility regulator · Jan. 2026
Interim service via temporary 345 kV tapsUtility plan only
350 MW
planned interim load on the Gray Summit-Tyson lines until the substation is built; Dec. 2027 (plan) Utility regulator · Jan. 2026
Proposed

Getting on the grid

Who supplies what, what it costs, and what is still not public.

  1. 2026
    Listed in Ameren's resource plan
    Ameren Missouri's filed 2026 plan includes a new 345 kV substation for a 1,000 MW 'Project Diamond' load. Utility regulator · Jan. 2026
  2. Dec. 2027
    Interim taps planned
    Temporary taps would serve 350 MW of customer load until the substation is built. Utility regulator · Jan. 2026
  3. Dec. 2030
    New substation planned in service
    Planned in-service date for the 12-position 345 kV substation. Utility regulator · Jan. 2026
  4. Not set
    Service agreement: none found
    No campus-specific state utility commission docket or electric service agreement was found as of Oct. 2026. see Permits
Permits

Permits checklist

3 contested · 2 checked, nothing on file

County approvals on record and what has not been filed.

Risks

What could slow it down

Lawsuits

1 case on record

Money

Money on record

$50M+
annual tax revenue (developer claim)
not verified Company · Oct. 2026
100%
of grid upgrades the developer says it pays
company statement Company · Oct. 2026

Not on record: development agreement or tax abatement: searched county records, Oct. 2026 Local government · Oct. 2026

Timeline

What happened, and what is due

SitePaper trailConstructionPowerPermitsMoneyLegalUpcoming
  1. 2026
    Power Ameren's filed resource plan lists a 1,000 MW 'Project Diamond' load near Gray Summit Utility regulator · Jan. 2026
  2. March 17, 2026
    Permits Planning hearing runs 11 hours as 174+ residents register to speak, most against News report · April 2026
  3. April 21, 2026
    Permits Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of both rezonings (8-1 per county orders) Local government · April 2026
  4. Sept. 15, 2026
    Permits County Commission approves both rezonings and a new data-center ordinance Local government · Sept. 2026
  5. Sept. 29, 2026
    Legal Residents press commissioners; county counsel advises silence because of threatened litigation News report · Sept. 2026
  6. Oct. 2026
    Legal Two groups and neighboring landowners sue to overturn the approvals and halt permits News report · Oct. 2026
  7. Dec. 2027
    Power Ameren's planned date for 350 MW of interim service via temporary taps Utility regulator · Jan. 2026
  8. Dec. 2030
    Power Ameren's planned in-service date for the new 345 kV substation Utility regulator · Jan. 2026
The buildings

Specs

573.3 acres
Diamond Farms parcel rezoned to the A district
Local government · Sept. 2026
39.5 acres
companion Diamond 66 parcel rezoned
Local government · Sept. 2026
13 buildings
with about 1,000-foot setbacks (company)
Company · Oct. 2026
Who is involved

Owners, partners and builders

Owners
  • Provident Data Centers (Texas): applicant behind the rezoning (press)
  • Diamond Farms, LLC and Diamond 66, LLC: applicants of record
  • L.B. Eckelkamp Jr.: owner of Diamond Farms and CEO of the Bank of Washington (press)
Decision-makers
  • Franklin County Commission: approved the rezonings and ordinance
  • Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission: recommended approval
Power partners
  • Ameren Missouri: serving utility, planned 345 kV substation
Opponents
  • No AI Data Centers in Franklin County (online group)
  • Two organizations and neighboring landowners suing over the approvals
  • Shaw Nature Reserve (Missouri Botanical Garden): sought added buffer protections
Still unknown

Open questions

Where this comes from

50 records from 10 documents

Drawn from news reports, local government records, company statements, public and commercial datasets and utility regulator dockets, each kept with its date and source. The bar shows documents by type.

News report 6Local government 1Company 1Dataset 1Utility regulator 1
Evidence

Every quote behind this page

Grade key: A = the primary record itself (permit, filing, exhibit) · B = a dated official statement · C = news reporting. Map distances are our own measurements on OpenStreetMap and carry no grade. Allegations in lawsuits are marked as such in the quotes.

Power (2)
  • Utility: Ameren Missouri (developer states it pays 100% of infrastructure and transmission upgrades
    “Gateway developer is paying 100% of all infrastructure and transmission upgrades with zero cost to Ameren customers or local taxpayers.”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • The only MW figures attached to this campus anywhere: Ameren Missouri's filed 2026 IRP plans a 1,000 MW 'Project Diamond' load addition (345 kV substation, ISD 2030) with 350 MW of interim service via temporary taps (ISD
    “for the connection of 1000 MW load addition”
    Utility regulator · Jan. 2026 · grade B
Money and contracts (2)
  • Developer commitment stated on the project website (no executed agreement retrieved): open-space covenant commitment 1000 feet of farm and tree buffer
    “Our agreement will include a permanent open space covenant for about 1000 feet of farm and tree buffer between the project building area and the Nature Reserve.”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Project site (company) claims 3,000+ jobs: 2,000 construction, 750 skilled service-sector, 250 data center positions; multi-billion dollar investment and $50M+ annual tax revenue also claimed - company claims, not verifi
    “The project will create 3,000+ jobs: 2000 construction jobs, 750 skilled service-sector jobs, 250 data center positions.”
    Company · 2026 · grade B
Permits and government (20)
  • Project identity: Gateway Digital Campus (project NAME, not a developer) at Diamond Farms, south side of I-44 between Highway 100, St. Mary's Road and Robertsville Road, Boles Township, Villa Ridge / Gray Summit, Frankli
    “submitted an application requesting the rezoning from the W district to the A district of approximately 573.3 acres, located on the south side of I-44, between Highway 100, St. Mary's Road, and Robertsville Road”
    Local government · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Project status: rezoning APPROVED by the Franklin County Commission on Sep 15, 2026 (Files 250270 and 250269); lawsuits filed Oct 2026 challenging the approvals and the new data center ordinance; no site plan or construc
    “IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED by the County Commission that the rezoning request filed by Diamond Farms, LLC be approved, resulting in the subject property being rezoned from the W district to the A district.”
    Local government · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Site acres: 573.3 acres
    “submitted an application requesting the rezoning from the W district to the A district of approximately 573.3 acres, located on the south side of I-44, between Highway 100, St. Mary's Road, and Robertsville Road”
    Local government · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Site acres related parcel: 39.5 acres
    “Diamond 66, LLC submitted an application requesting the rezoning from the R district to the A district of approximately 39.5 acres, located approximately 0.65 miles west of the intersection of Highway 100 and Robertsville Road”
    Local government · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • 573.3 acres on the south side of I-44 between Highway 100, St. Mary's Road and R: rezoning APPROVED (W district to A district)
    “IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED by the County Commission that the rezoning request filed by Diamond Farms, LLC be approved, resulting in the subject property being rezoned from the W district to the A district.”
    Local government · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Companion 39.5-acre parcel approximately 0.65 miles west of Highway 100 and Robe: rezoning APPROVED (R district to A district)
    “IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED by the County Commission that the rezoning request filed by Diamond 66, LLC be approved”
    Local government · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Section 238 permits data centers in the G and A districts, caps a data center de: data center ordinance amendment in the same Sep 15, 2026 packet (new Article 10, Section 238)
    “Data Centers shall be permitted in the G and A zoning districts.”
    Local government · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Franklin County Commission:
    “IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED by the County Commission that the rezoning request filed by Diamond Farms, LLC be approved”
    Local government · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Date from DCD reporting of the Apr 21, 2026 vote; the County Commission orders r: recommended approval of both Diamond rezonings
    “the Planning and Zoning Commission considered the application, with the vote of the Planning and Zoning Commission resulting in a recommendation for approval of the request based upon a vote of eight in favor and one opposed”
    Local government · April 2026 · grade A
  • Franklin County Planning & Zoning Commission:
    “the vote of the Planning and Zoning Commission resulting in a recommendation for approval of the request based upon a vote of eight in favor and one opposed”
    Local government · April 2026 · grade A
  • County code: 29071
    “Diamond Farms, LLC submitted an application requesting the rezoning from the W district to the A district of approximately 573.3 acres, located on the south side of I-44”
    Local government · Sept. 2026 · grade B
  • Project status: rezoning approved Sep 15, 2026; approval now challenged by lawsuits filed Oct 2026; no construction reported
    “IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED by the County Commission that the rezoning request filed by Diamond Farms, LLC be approved”
    Local government · Sept. 2026 · grade B
  • County Commission approved rezoning ~573.3 acres (Diamond Farms, LLC) from the W: Rezoning APPROVED (both Diamond entities, Sep 15, 2026)
    “IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED by the County Commission that the rezoning request filed by Diamond Farms, LLC be approved”
    Local government · Sept. 2026 · grade B
  • Ameren Missouri's IRP transmission appendix lists a new 345 kV substation (12-po: Transmission plan of record for the 'Project Diamond' load addition (new 345 kV substation + interim temporary taps)
    “Construct temporary taps on Gray Summit-Tyson 345 kV lines to serve 350 MW of customer load.”
    Utility regulator · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Developer: Provident Data Centers (Texas-based; applicant behind the Diamond Farms rezoning per DCD; the rezoning applicants of record are Diamond Farms, LLC and Diamond 66, LLC)
    “It was the Diamond Farms proposal, put forth by Provident Data Centers, that got the commission's recommendation for approval.”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Organised opposition is broad: the 'No AI Data Centers in Franklin County' Facebook group passed 3,000 members by April 2026, and Shaw Nature Reserve (Missouri Botanical Garden) sought added protections for the neighbour
    “a public Facebook group called ‘No AI Data Centers in Franklin County’ has amassed more than 3,000 members at the time of writing”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Mar 17, 2026 P&Z hearing ran 11 hours (6pm to ~4:30am) with 174+ residents registered, majority opposed; decision postponed to Apr 21; opposition group 'No AI Data Centers in Franklin County' exceeded 3,000 members
    “Public opinion seems broadly opposed to both proposals, and a public Facebook group called 'No AI Data Centers in Franklin County' has amassed more than 3,000 members”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Landowner: L.B. Eckelkamp Jr. (owner of Diamond Farms; CEO of the Bank of Washington), who requested the rezoning
    “L.B. Eckelkamp Jr., owner of Diamond Farms and CEO of the Franklin Countybased Bank of Washington, requested Franklin County to rezone his farmland to accommodate plans to build a data center.”
    News report · March 2026 · grade C
  • Announced: March 17, 2026
    “The first proposal, put forth by Provident Data Centers, requested the rezoning of around 575 acres of agricultural land in order to make it suitable for a future data center development called the Gateway Digital Campus.”
    News report · March 2026 · grade C
  • Franklin County Planning & Zoning Commission:
    “Most of the meeting's runtime was taken up by more than 174 residents who registered to express their views, with the majority of them speaking against the data centers”
    News report · March 2026 · grade C
Legal (4)
  • Two organizations and neighboring landowners filed lawsuits in Oct 2026 seeking to overturn the Franklin County Commission's September approval of the two data center projects (Diamond Farms/Gateway and Beltline/Crooked
    “A new lawsuit seeks to overturn Franklin County commissioners' approval last month of two large, controversial data center projects near Pacific and Gray Summit.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Two groups filed separate court actions in October 2026 challenging Franklin County's approval of the new data center ordinance and the rezonings for the two large data centers (Diamond Farms / Gateway and Beltline Crook
    “The petitions ask a judge to overturn the approvals and prevent the county from issuing permits for data centers on the affected properties.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • At a late-September 2026 Commission meeting, residents pressed commissioners to explain the approval votes on the Provident Diamond Farms and Beltline Crooked Creek projects; county counsel repeatedly advised commissione
    “Public commenters at a Franklin County commission meeting pressed for explanations about recent votes approving two proposed hyperscale data centers, raising concerns about transparency, power-grid capacity and health risks.”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • At the Sep 29, 2026 Franklin County Commission meeting, residents pressed commissioners on the Diamond Farms and Beltline approvals and county counsel repeatedly advised no comment because of threatened litigation.
    “County counsel repeatedly advised commissioners not to comment because of threatened litigation.”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
Site and other (2)
  • Planned buildings: 13 buildings
    “the 13-building plan preserves 50% of the site as undisturbed green space and establishes about 1,000-foot setbacks”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Water supply: public utilities (no onsite wells); closed-loop cooling; developer pays for all water and sewer upgrades
    “We will not use onsite wells and instead will use public utilities.”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B