Sedgwick County Data Centers

As a strategic foresight professional, I am analyzing the implications of introducing heavy industrial hyperscale data centers into Sedgwick County. While these facilities present fiscal opportunities, their current targeting of rural-residential areas rather than established industrial zones requires a rigorous evaluation of the long-term systemic trade-offs.

Beyond immediate property tax revenue, we must weigh the significant demands these centers place on our shared water table and electrical grid. Data centers are resource-intense infrastructure; positioning them near rural communities creates “industrial islands.”

Because Sedgwick County utilizes formal zoning, we have a vital, limited window to establish standards that prioritize resource resilience and protect rural character. My analysis aims to shift the focus from short-term, hyper-local gains to regional, long-term considerations. We must ask: If this is the future we are choosing, are we prepared for the infrastructure and environmental requirements it demands?

Reports:

March 2026 Report – Data Centers in Sedgwick County: Designing the Future We Choose

Microfuture Web Series

Explore 2036 before it arrives. From artificial intelligence to surveillance to universal basic income, Wichita in 2036 looks foreign to Wichita in 2026. This web series was created to allow local leaders and community members to imagine how they’d feel if one possible future unfolds.

Research shows if we imagine and immerse ourselves in any future that’s different than today, we mentally prepare for any future that’s different. The goal of this series is not to predict the future. Rather, it’s to use a creative medium – short form scenario videos – to challenge our assumptions of what the future will look like.

This series ties to my Future Forward Wichita initiative. Many of the ideas for Microfuture came directly from conversations we had at the table during Future Forums.

Click to the button below to jump into this future-based experience.