Click Here The people vs. the cloud
14 snips
Feb 3, 2026 Scott Stratton Henderson, a college student from Young St. Charles who organized local opposition to a proposed data center. He uncovers Project Cumulus, sparks a viral petition, and helps mobilize noisy city hall meetings. The story covers secrecy and NDAs, worries about location, and a developer withdrawal — with the community poised to keep watch if the plan returns.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
College Student Sparks A Movement
- Scott Stratton Henderson learned about Project Cumulus from his mother and a Facebook group and immediately mobilized against it.
- He turned a summer break into a grassroots campaign that grew far beyond his expectations.
Petition Turned Into Organized Opposition
- Scott organized a Change.org petition that jumped from a few signatures to over 7,000 in two weeks.
- The petition transformed into an organized, offline opposition with yard signs, flyers, and protests.
Environmental Risks Near Wellheads
- Placing a data center on a wellhead risks contaminating fragile aquifers and adds diesel-fuel hazards.
- The project raised fears of water contamination, generator fuel spills, and huge daily water use for cooling.