Data centers in Buffalo County, Nebraska: 2 projects mapped

Imagery: Esri, Maxar

Kearney has hosted data centers for more than a decade and just wrote new rules for them. A cryptocurrency mine run by Marathon Digital Holdings opened at Tech oNE Crossing, east of town, in 2017. On Sept. 8, 2026, the Kearney City Council approved a conditional use permit for Project Horizon, a data center by Starwood Digital Ventures (SDV) and MARA that would replace the mine and reuse its 100 megawatts of power for a first phase, reaching 368 megawatts at full buildout.

The developers promised money to the city: $250,000 each over five years to Central Community College and Kearney Public Schools, $250,000 to Hot Meals USA, and 59 permanent jobs. City Manager Brenda Jensen said electricity revenue to the city could rise from about $2 million a year to $11 million to $13 million, and the project's first phase alone would generate about $20 million a year in property taxes for the county and schools. Construction could start by December 2026, with operations by March 2028; the site would have 54 backup generators.

The city's new rules came from an earlier fight. In May 2026, resident Josh Lillyman's petition over noise from a smaller planned site, Sequitor Edge, passed 450 signatures. An advisory group of residents, officials and council members then wrote about 10 pages of data center rules, including a 55-decibel noise limit at the property line and required water studies. "This will be the most regulated industry in Kearney," Jensen said.

Every project above is drawn from public records, filings and local reporting. Each row links to what it is based on. Statuses change, so check the source date before you rely on one. Found something wrong? Write to [email protected] and it gets fixed.