It’s time for Page Two: News that might not make the front page for Friday March 13, 2026.
Borough Mayor Edna DeVries pushed “pause” on a possible data center in the Mat-Su.
The Terra Energy Center Corporation wants to build a coal power plant in the Mat-Su Borough. They need a large industrial energy-user, such as a data center to do so. Terra asked the Mat-Su Borough to partner with them to market borough land to large industry. The Assembly supported Terra’s proposal in a 5 to 2 vote. Mayor Edna DeVries vetoed the decision.
The proposal involves three potential borough parcels, according to Amy Bushatz at the Mat-Su Sentinel: land near Big Lake, at Port MacKenzie, or near the proposed West Susitna Access Road. The resolution would allow the borough to share staff resources with Terra to attract industry to one of these areas.
Supporters of the resolution said the borough resources used would be minimal. They note that the borough would benefit from the property taxes if Terra could attract a large industrial player.
Opponents objected that the impact of a large industrial business would be immense to both residents and fish and game.
They also argued that the resolution singles out one entity for support. Assembly woman Stephanie Nowers said that “there is no reason to hitch ourselves to a particular company.”
Nowers talked about how poorly vetted long-term leases can burn the borough in both the Assembly meeting and in an interview with Page 2.
She recalls one long-term lease at the borough’s port. The borough got stuck with a conveyor belt owned by a company. The borough isn’t using it, but it can’t be dismantled because of the terms of a long-term lease. “We were unable to continue doing things with the port,” she says. “So, it’s financially prudent of the borough to be cautious about tying up land that we may need in the future.”
“We’re not at that point with this particular project,” Nowers said, “but because of that history, I just kind of wanted the rest of the Assembly to be aware of that.”
DeVries seems to agree with Nowers. In her veto letter, she noted the controversy about data centers. She also noted procedural issues. She objected to letting a private company represent the borough on a stage when we have not discussed it with citizens or at assembly meetings.
Finally, she cited “high energy usage, low employment density, noise, and the need for security.”
In an interview with the Mat-Su Sentinel, Devries said that she is “not a big fan of non-elected officials or even appointed officials on boards and commissions representing the Mat-Su Borough.”
The Assembly voted 5-2 in favor of the resolution. Those five votes could override the veto if the sponsors move to do so. Assembly member Ron Bernier told the Mat-SuSentinel that he has not decided whether to bring it back to the Assembly.
Read the full Sentinel article at matsusentinel.com.
Next week starts off with two presentations on Monday:
From the Field: Stories through the Eyes of an Archaeologist with Fran Seager-Boss is at 7 p.m. at the Palmer Depot. This free event is sponsored by the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation and Revel Treks & Tours.
Cheryl Homme gives a talk on the Quilts of Valor Foundation and Forget Me Not Quilters for the Palmer Historical Society of Alaska monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Moose Lodge.
Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and 6 p.m.
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This Page Two article was written by David Cheezem and read by Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Friday March 13, 2026.