Podcast Summary: Click Here

Episode: "The People vs. the Cloud"

Date: October 28, 2025
Host: Dena Temple-Raston (Recorded Future News)

Overview

This episode tells the true story of a grassroots movement in St. Charles, Missouri, where a young resident, Scott Stratton Henderson, led opposition against the construction of a massive “Project Cumulus” data center in his hometown. As big tech companies expand their cloud infrastructure into smaller communities, locals are beginning to push back, questioning the impact of these projects on their environment, resources, transparency, and local economy. The episode goes beyond the technical jargon of “the cloud,” focusing on what happens when real people confront one of the world’s most powerful industries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meet Scott Stratton Henderson: From Student to Accidental Activist

• Scott is a busy 20-year-old—full-time student, worker, runs a claw machine business, and gets involved in local politics.

• Origin of Scott’s activism: he learns about “Project Cumulus” from his mother via Facebook groups.

• Project Cumulus is a proposed 440-acre data center on the edge of residential St. Charles.

  [02:38] Scott Stratton Henderson: “I wanted to make sure that this thing didn't go up in St. Charles because I have always thought of St. Charles as a place worth fighting for.”

2. Why St. Charles Fought Back

• St. Charles is portrayed as a quaint, historic, close-knit community (described as “Hallmark movie” territory).

• Key concerns about the data center:

  • Location: Too close to homes and small farms.
  • Noise: Data centers are loud; the humming can travel for miles.
  • Environmental Impact:
    • Proximity to the city’s aquifer, which had previously faced contamination.
    • Large diesel fuel tanks for backup power threaten water safety in tornado- and quake-prone Missouri.
    • Water consumption for cooling: up to 5 million gallons a day.
    • Potential for increased electricity bills and carbon emissions.

  [07:49] Scott Stratton Henderson: “You know, we're one natural disaster away from being a complete, complete and utter contamination event happening.”

3. Organizing Resistance in the Digital Age

• Scott launches an online petition on Change.org.

• Immediate and massive response:

  • 500+ signatures in the first 24 hours, more than 7,000 in two weeks.
  • The movement grows from online activism to door-to-door organizing and in-person protests.

  [09:22] Scott Stratton Henderson: “It multiplies, multiplies, multiplies. And then I think within the first 24 hours, he got over 500 signatures.”

4. Big Tech’s Pitch vs. Local Skepticism

• Tech companies argue data centers bring the future, economic opportunity, jobs, and progress to communities.

  [11:39] Project Cumulus Lawyer: “We're going to end up becoming a significant part of the St. Charles and St. Louis economy…”

• Policy expert Assad Ramzan Ali from Vanderbilt discusses the reality:

  • Data centers create only a handful of long-term jobs, unlike auto plants or similar large industrial developments.
  • The “multiplier effect” is minimal; construction jobs are short-term and operational staff is low.
  • Generous tax breaks can drain local resources.
  • Greater transparency is needed regarding return on investment for the community.

  [13:35] Assad Ramzan Ali: “You don't build a neighborhood for 30 people. You don't have new restaurants spring up because 30 people move to a certain area of the city.”

  [14:09] Assad Ramzan Ali: “These are some of the most valuable companies in the history of the world. They can afford it. I don't think a local community in St. Charles, Missouri, or in Tucson or in Memphis should be on the hook for these kinds of things.”

5. Secrecy and Trust Issues

• The true corporate backer of Project Cumulus is secret due to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)—even local officials are bound by them.

• Residents feel stonewalled; only developers are publicly accountable.

• Secrecy increases distrust and fuels opposition, rather than quelling it.

  [16:37] Scott Stratton Henderson: “That's something that frankly big tech companies are just going to have to swallow is that they're going to need to share some more information with the communities they want to do business with…”

6. The Climax: Community Mobilization and Council Showdown

• Protests, yard signs, packed city council meetings.

• Residents demand transparency and voice environmental/health concerns.

  [17:45] Cara Price: “You can't buy back your health.”

• Scott’s father publicly supports his son’s activism.

  [17:48] Scott’s Dad: "I want to say I'm very proud of my son Scott for being so active at a young age and spreading awareness in a socially responsible way."

• The council meeting draws such a crowd it moves to a convention center.

• Breaking moment: The Project Cumulus lawyer announces withdrawal of the application, citing poor process and overwhelming feedback.

  [19:18] Project Cumulus Lawyer: “…We have had significant feedback from you as members of the council and from the folks that were just cheering behind me, asking questions, questions about this project, about its impacts and, frankly, about the process to date and process matters in this community. And I'm here to say the process was poor. We did a bad job at it.”

7. Aftermath and Broader Implications

• Despite victory, residents are wary; the possibility remains the data center could return after a year.

• St. Charles becomes an example for similar movements elsewhere.

• Ongoing tension between technology-driven progress and community values/needs.

  [20:56] Scott Stratton Henderson: “The people of St. Charles, Miss. Have spoken. And even though they have withdrew their application, for the time being, they plan on coming back. My message to them is St. Charles does not want or need your data center. When you come knocking on our city gates again. The good people of St. Charles, Missouri will be waiting.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Scott Stratton Henderson, about the movement:

  • "A college kid had just sparked a movement. David versus Goliath, armed not with a slingshot, but a change.org link." — [09:38] Dena Temple-Raston

• On the impact of secrecy:

  • "But in St. Charles, all that secrecy had the opposite effect." — [16:31] Dena Temple-Raston

• On environmental risk:

  • "We're one natural disaster away from being a complete, complete and utter contamination event happening." — [07:49] Scott Stratton Henderson

• On local government process:

  • "We did a bad job at it. We did not get out.” — [19:25] Project Cumulus Lawyer, withdrawing the application

• On community resilience:

  • "The good people of St. Charles, Missouri will be waiting." — [20:56] Scott Stratton Henderson

Important Timeline & Segment Timestamps

• [00:17] — Scott describes his busy life pre-activism
• [01:48] — Scott first hears of Project Cumulus
• [02:38] — Scott articulates his motivation to fight
• [06:29] — Water safety issues explained
• [08:47] — Scott launches the Change.org petition
• [09:22] — Petition goes viral
• [11:39] — Tech companies make their pitch
• [13:35] — Multiplier effect and job debate
• [15:41] — NDAs and secrecy described
• [16:31] — Secrecy leads to more opposition
• [17:45] — Emotional community testimony
• [18:35] — Council meeting moved to convention center
• [19:18] — Project Cumulus lawyer withdraws proposal
• [20:56] — Scott’s closing remarks on community vigilance

Tone and Storytelling

The episode blends narrative storytelling with investigative reporting, balancing clear, approachable explanations (avoiding jargon) with real voices of concern, skepticism, and a touch of stubborn civic pride. It gives listeners both the “why” and “how” behind grassroots activism facing off against massive, faceless tech interests—and why the debate around the cloud is no longer just technical, but deeply personal and political.

For further information, visit Click Here podcast. Tune in Friday for an inside look at Google Data Centers in their next episode.