To The Editor,

The city of Warrenton's relentless pursuit of new businesses has led to the idea that a data center is the ideal new business here. I think that the aldermen do not fully understand the danger and costs of a data center in our area.

Ameren has already raised residential electric rates by 12% this year. A data center would take away a significant amount of electricity that is needed by the residents of Warren County and our rates will go up even higher. The power grid we have now is not sufficient to support such an energy drain on our resources. The higher costs would, as always, be passed to the residents who can not afford to see higher utility bills.

 A huge portion of Warren County residents, my husband and I included, are retirees on a fixed income. Every cost that goes up impacts our ability to pay our bills and provide basics for ourselves. There are so many people in our country that have been impacted by the data centers in their areas and it is not a positive impact. Do your research! A data center is not the answer. Big corporations do not have to worry about bills, they are swimming in money. 

Please, reconsider the impact of this idea. It will affect all of us in terrible ways.

Sherry Jones

Warrenton