Category: Developer Track Record
Here’s something Diode Ventures doesn’t want you to know: this isn’t their first time.
Diode has proposed massive data centre projects in communities across North America. And in those communities, the pattern has been the same — no named end user, incomplete independent studies, and a hope that residents won’t organize. When residents do organize, they win.
Peculiar, Missouri (2024) — City Council Removed Data Centres From Zoning
In Peculiar, Missouri, Diode proposed a 504-acre, $1.5 billion data centre campus. Residents packed town meetings, created community groups online, and raised the exact same concerns we’ve been raising here: no end user identified, no independent studies, too many unanswered questions for a project of this scale.
The result? The Peculiar city council didn’t just reject the proposal — they removed data centres from their zoning ordinance altogether. Not postponed. Not sent for more study. Removed entirely.
National outlets like the Washington Post covered the story, documenting how organized community opposition led to a complete reversal. When a community makes its voice heard, councils listen.
Charles City, Virginia (2025) — Diode Withdrew Under Pressure
A year later, Diode brought a 515-acre proposal to Charles City, Virginia. The planning commission had actually recommended approval. But community members weren’t satisfied. They formed “Charles City Citizens First,” packed hearings, and demanded answers.
The result? Diode withdrew the application entirely. Both the Washington Post and New York Times covered the withdrawal, noting that community opposition was the decisive factor.
The Pattern Is Clear
Diode’s playbook follows a predictable path:
- Propose a massive data centre without identifying the end user
- Submit incomplete environmental, traffic, and groundwater studies
- Count on the community staying disorganized and disengaged
- If the community pushes back — retreat and try a different jurisdiction
This isn’t speculation. It’s documented across multiple states and multiple years. In Peculiar, residents raised concerns about inadequate studies — the same concerns Heidi Pradt raised about groundwater and noise at our July 7 hearing. In Charles City, they asked who the end user was — the same question our residents are asking today.
What About Golden Plains, Kansas?
Diode has completed one major project: Golden Plains Technology Park in Kansas City, an 882-acre campus built for Meta. The first building came online in August 2025.
But here’s the critical difference: Meta was the named end user from the beginning. The project had a clear purpose, a well-known company backing it, and full transparency about what was being built. That’s not what Wheatland County is being asked to approve.
What This Means for Wheatland County
We’re at step 3 of Diode’s playbook right now. At the July 7 public hearing, 24 residents spoke in opposition, and over 100 written letters were submitted — the vast majority against the proposal. Council deferred third reading of the ASP amendment. That’s a sign that community voices are being heard.
But the fight isn’t over. Council needs to see we’re organized, informed, and not going anywhere.
Organized communities win. Let’s keep proving that.
For more on Diode’s track record, visit their project updates page. To see the full application documents, visit the Wheatland County projects page.