Data center profile · Southwest Joplin, Jasper and Newton counties, Missouri

Wildwood Ranch (Joplin)

About 600 acres of ranchland in Joplin, Missouri, annexed and rezoned for heavy industry Feb. 2026 for an unnamed data center developer; no power commitment.

Rezoned, no developer named. Joplin's council gave final approval to annexation and rezoning on Feb. 17, 2026, but the owner is still selling the land to a buyer the city says it cannot name. As of the city's March 2026 update no construction permit had been filed.
600.4 acres
rezoned from residential to heavy industrial
final council approval, Feb. 17, 2026
540 acres
annexed into the city
voluntary annexation approved the same day (press, 6-3)
At least 200 MW
capacity in a local economic-development listing
listing only; no utility commitment or developer document states a figure
6-1
planning commission recommendation
Jan. 12, 2026; a recommendation, the council decided
OperatorNot named; Wildwood Ranch, LLC (landowner, led by James Pinjuv) is selling to an unnamed developer
CustomerNone named; the prospect is bound by a non-disclosure agreement
Planned IT capacity160 MW at full build-out (our estimate from the company or utility power figure)
First building in serviceOur estimate: 2029 or later (no dated power path yet).
Next stepNo date published; the sale to an unnamed developer, a power study and any construction permit are all still to come
Power

Power and the grid

Sources on record, size not disclosed

Getting on the grid

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

  1. March 2026
    Power feasibility study underway
    The city said no construction permit had been filed and a power study was underway. see Permits
  2. Sept. 11, 2026
    Utility files a large-load tariff
    Liberty asks the Missouri PSC to approve a tariff for new customers of 25 MW or more; it is a utility-wide filing, not a deal for this site. see Permits
  3. Not set
    Service agreement: not on record
    No electric service agreement or interconnection request for this site is in our sources. see Permits
Permits

Permits checklist

1 contested · 1 pending · 2 granted · 1 checked, nothing on file

Approvals a campus like this normally needs, and what we found.

Risks

What could slow it down

Money

Money on record

100% of water and power upgrade costs the owner says the developer will bear (stated in testimony, not a written agreement). News report · Jan. 2026

Timeline

What happened, and what is due

SitePaper trailConstructionPowerPermitsMoneyLegalUpcoming
  1. 2008
    Site Owner James Pinjuv creates a master plan for Wildwood Ranch with city planners Local government · Jan. 2008
  2. Jan. 15, 2009
    Permits City and landowner sign a sewer and annexation agreement requiring annexation by 2029 Local government · Jan. 2009
  3. Jan. 12, 2026
    Permits Planning commission recommends annexation and rezoning, 6-1 Local government · Jan. 2026
  4. Jan. 20, 2026
    Permits Council hears nearly eight hours of mostly opposing comment, then advances both measures News report · Jan. 2026
  5. Feb. 17, 2026
    Permits Council gives final approval to annex 540 acres and rezone 600 acres for heavy industry News report · Feb. 2026
  6. Feb. 19, 2026
    Site Press reports the site could offer at least 200 MW and the developer remains unnamed News report · Feb. 2026
  7. March 2026
    Power City says no construction permit is filed and a power study is underway News report · March 2026
  8. Sept. 11, 2026
    Power Liberty files a large-load tariff with the Missouri PSC Utility regulator · Sept. 2026
The buildings

Specs

540 + 600.4 acres
annexation and rezoning areas (they overlap on the same ranch)
Local government · Jan. 2026
30-foot buffer
landscape buffer required where the site touches neighbors; part of the site is in a flood plain
Local government · Jan. 2026
2029
deadline in the 2009 agreement to annex all the land in exchange for city sewer extension
Local government · 2009
Who is involved

Owners, partners and builders

Owners
  • Wildwood Ranch, LLC: landowner and applicant
  • James (Jimmer) Pinjuv: owner of Wildwood Ranch, selling the land
Decision-makers
  • Joplin City Council: approved annexation and rezoning
  • Joplin Planning and Zoning Commission: recommended approval
  • Liberty Utilities: electric utility
Still unknown

Open questions

Where this comes from

73 records from 20 documents

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

News report 10Local government 6Utility regulator 3Dataset 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 (4)
  • Utility: Liberty Utilities (Empire District service area; Liberty Utilities-owned state line power station adjoins the Wildwood Ranch master plan area)
    “such as the Liberty Utilities-owned state line power station and a nearby smokestack industrial facility which manufactures rock wool insulation.”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Project status: announced only - annexation and rezoning approved Jan 2026; no construction permit filed as of City March 2026 update; end developer unnamed
    “Joplin's City Council approved annexation and rezoning in February 2026. The city said no construction permit had been filed as of its March update and a power feasibility study was underway.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • MOKAN Partnership (local economic development organization) online project listing states the Wildwood Ranch site could offer at least 200 MW of capacity - the source of the campus 200 MW figure as stated; no MW figure a
    “According to an online project listing by local economic development organization, the Mokan Partnership, the site could offer at least 200MW of capacity”
    News report · Feb. 2026 · grade C
  • As of Feb. 5, 2026 the prospective developer was an unnamed California firm, described by the Globe as one of the largest industrial developers in the nation; its PR firm said the property "is currently under considerati
    “The Wildwood Ranch property is currently under consideration only, and no decision has been made regarding any specific use”
    News report · Feb. 2026 · grade C
Money and contracts (8)
  • Developer non-disclosure agreement: confidentiality Developer non-disclosure agreement: Pinjuv signed an NDA with the prospect; the city does not know and cannot confirm the name of the prospective company. The city expe
    “Pinjuv has indicated he signed a non-disclosure agreement with the prospect, and therefore, the City does not know and cannot confirm the name of the prospective company involved in the potential construction of a data center”
    Local government · Jan. 2026 · grade A
  • Wildwood Ranch Annexation Agreement (2009): annexation deadline Wildwood Ranch Annexation Agreement (2009): All property identified in the 2009 agreement is required to be annexed into the City of Joplin by 2029
    “All of the property identified in the agreement is required to be annexed by 2029”
    Local government · 2009 · grade A
  • Wildwood Ranch Annexation Agreement (2009): infrastructure exchange Wildwood Ranch Annexation Agreement (2009): In exchange for the city agreeing to extend sewer infrastructure to the land to make it marketable and encou
    “In exchange for the City agreeing to extend sewer infrastructure to the land to make it marketable and encourage development, Pinjuv agreed all the land would be annexed into Joplin City limits by 2029”
    Local government · 2009 · grade A
  • Tenant operator: unnamed - City states it does not know and cannot confirm the prospective data center company (NDA)
    “the City does not know and cannot confirm the name of the prospective company involved in the potential construction of a data center.”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Annexation Agreement (2009): annexation timeline
    “The agreement stipulates that the property will be annexed into the City of Joplin over a specified timeline. All of the property identified in the agreement is required to be annexed by 2029.”
    Local government · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • City of Joplin and the Wildwood Ranch entity executed the Sanitary Sewer Construction and Treatment Services and Annexation agreement (Jan 15, 2009), recited in Council Bill 2016-141
    “Wildwood Ranch LLC and City entered into an agreement executed on January 15, 2009 for Sanitary Sewer Construction and Treatment Services and Annexation”
    Local government · Jan. 2009 · grade B
  • Wildwood Ranch Master Plan created with City planners (2008); annexation agreement with the City followed, requiring full annexation by 2029 in exchange for sewer extension
    “Wildwood Ranch used to be a working ranch before James Pinjuv bought the land and created a Master Plan in 2008, in collaboration with City planners”
    Local government · Jan. 2008 · grade B
  • Utility cost commitment (applicant statement, Jan 12, 2026 P&Z hearing): cost bearing Utility cost commitment (stated by applicant, Jan. 12, 2026 P&Z hearing): Pinjuv stated the costs of water and power system improvemen
    “It is an enormous power consumer and an enormously large water consumer, and there will have to be improvements of the water system and the grid, and those costs will be completely 100% borne by the developer”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
Permits and government (23)
  • Empire District Electric Co. d/b/a Liberty filed its SB 4 large load rate plan a: application filed - large load customer rate plan and Schedule TS-LL tariff
    “On September 11, 2026, Liberty filed an application and supporting testimony with the Commission providing its proposal for a Transmission Service Large Load (TS-LL) tariff”
    Utility regulator · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Joplin City Council:
    “Section 3. This Council Bill shall become effective on February 18, 2026.”
    Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade A
  • Joplin Planning & Zoning Commission:
    “Staff recommends approving Council Bill 2026-256 Planning & Zoning Commission recommends approving Case 003-26 (6 in Favor, 1 Opposed, 0 Absent)”
    Local government · Jan. 2026 · grade A
  • Joplin Planning & Zoning Commission:
    “The 2018 Wildwood Ranch Industrial Complex Master Plan designates this property as a future Heavy Industrial opportunity area. Staff recommends approval of Case 004-26.”
    Local government · Jan. 2026 · grade A
  • County code: 29097
    “Most of the land involved in the Wildwood Ranch Industrial Complex annexation and rezoning request is located within Jasper County, and a small portion is located in Newton County.”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • County code: 29145
    “Most of the land involved in the Wildwood Ranch Industrial Complex annexation and rezoning request is located within Jasper County, and a small portion is located in Newton County.”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Voluntary Annexation: Approved by City Council (6-3, as reported)
    “Case 003-26: Approximately 540 Acres SW of the intersection of Central City Rd and W 20th Street – Voluntary Annexation – A request to voluntarily annex property into the Corporate Limits of the City of Joplin – Wildwood Ranch, LLC”
    Local government · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Rezoning staff report: Staff recommends approval
    “The 2018 Wildwood Ranch Industrial Complex Master Plan designates this property as a future Heavy Industrial opportunity area.”
    Local government · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Planning & Zoning Commission heard Cases 003-26 (annexation, ~540 acres) and 004-26 (rezoning ~600.4 acres R-1 to M-2) on Jan 12, 2026 and voted 6-1 to recommend approval
    “CASE 003-26 A request to voluntarily annex property into the City of Joplin. LOCATION Approximately 540 Acres SW of the intersection of Central City Rd and W 20th Street. APPLICANT Wildwood Ranch, LLC”
    Local government · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • do not merge the two
    “A second data center by Geronimo targets unincorporated county land with no zoning laws.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Referendum petitions against the Wildwood Ranch annexation/rezoning submitted about 2,800 signatures, short of the about 5,000 required (Ballotpedia)
    “The Joplin Sustainable Technology Alliance proposed referendums targeting the annexation and rezoning of part of Wildwood Ranch for industrial use to allow data center development.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Joplin council adopted 2026 data-center use standards; data centers are a listed use in M-2 Heavy Industrial subject to setbacks and performance requirements - this does not approve this site
    “Council adopted 2026 data-center standards. Data centers are a listed use in M-2 Heavy Industrial subject to setbacks and performance requirements; this does not mean any particular site is approved.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Opposition group Joplin Citizens Against Wildwood Ranch Data Center Site is seeking repeal of the decision and a 12-month data center moratorium; its petition passed 1,400 signatures; about 50 residents protested at City
    “600 acres rezoned R-1 to M-2 heavy industrial. P&Z approved 6-1. 7-hour council meeting. ~50 residents protested at City Hall May 1, 2026.”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
  • As of the city's March 2026 update (summarized by the WCCRD tracker), no construction permit had been filed for the site and a power feasibility study was underway; annexation and rezoning alone do not authorize construc
    “Joplin's City Council approved annexation and rezoning in February 2026. The city said no construction permit had been filed as of its March update and a power feasibility study was underway”
    News report · March 2026 · grade C
  • Status: rezoning approved developer unnamed
    “Neither details on the planned data center or the unnamed developer were shared.”
    News report · Feb. 2026 · grade C
  • DCD summary of the approval: council annexed 540 acres and rezoned 600 acres at W 20th St and Central City Rd; applicant Wildwood Ranch, LLC seeks to sell to a developer 'interested in developing the site for heavy indus
    “According to city documents, the current owner seeks to sell the subject property to a developer interested in developing the site for heavy industrial use.”
    News report · Feb. 2026 · grade C
  • Joplin City Council:
    “The Joplin city council this week approved requests to annex 540 acres and rezone a total of 600 acres of land on the southwest side of the city that could be home to an AI data center in the future”
    News report · Feb. 2026 · grade C
  • Joplin Sustainable Technology Alliance and Joplin Citizens Against Wildwood Ranch Data Center Site launched referendum and initiative petitions after final approval: a referendum would suspend the zoning; the initiative
    “A referendum would automatically suspend needed zoning for the site. The initiative petition would establish a one-year moratorium on construction and require an environmental study on the potential effects to Joplin's environment, including the Ozark Aquifer and the Chert Glades”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
  • Rezoning R-1 to M-2 (Heavy Industrial): Approved by City Council (7-2, as reported)
    “Council members later voted 7-2 to approve M-2 industrial zoning, with Copple and Farnham dissenting.”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
  • City Council took nearly eight hours of public comment on Jan 20, 2026 (most opposing) and a majority supported annexation and rezoning in a first vote
    “The council listened to nearly eight hours of public comments made Jan. 20 by Joplin residents, most opposing the annexation of land and rezoning for a potential technology center in west Joplin.”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
  • Joplin City Council:
    “The council vote last week was 6-3 for annexation of the proposed site with members Chuck Copple, Josh Detar and Mark Farnham casting the "no" votes”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
  • Joplin City Council:
    “The rezoning question was advanced 7-2 with Copple and Farnham voting "no."”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
  • Change.org petition 'Stop the Wildwood Ranch Data Center Project in Joplin, MO' published Jan 15, 2026 ahead of the Jan 20 council meeting
    “We need your support at the City Council meeting on January 20 at 6p, but your signature here also shows opposition”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
Site and other (4)
  • Site location: Approximately 600.4 acres SW of the intersection of Central City Rd and W 20th St, Joplin, MO (Wildwood Ranch)
    “LOCATION Approximately 600.4 Acres SW of the intersection of Central City Rd and W 20th St.”
    Local government · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Developer: Wildwood Ranch, LLC (applicant / landowner seeking sale); end developer unnamed and under NDA
    “The current owner seeks to sell the subject property to a developer who is interested in developing the site for heavy industrial use.”
    Local government · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Site acres: 600.4 acres rezoned; approximately 540 acres annexed
    “R-1 Vacant Approximately 600.4 Acres”
    Local government · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Opposition group Joplin Citizens Against Wildwood Ranch Data Center Site sought repeal of the decision and a 12-month data center moratorium; Change.org petition over 1,400 signatures at DCD writing
    “Opposition group Joplin Citizens Against Wildwood Ranch Data Center Site is seeking to have the decision repealed and install a 12-month data center moratorium.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C