Kentucky counties push back on data centers

Kentucky residents and local politicians are expressing growing concerns over the expansion of power-intensive data centers across the state, leading to animated local politics and elections. Cody Stinnett, a Mercer County resident and organizer with "We Are Mercer County," is running for county magistrate primarily due to his worries about a potential data center in his area and its impact on the environment, electricity rates, and local resources like fire prevention. The Mercer County Planning and Zoning Commission is actively considering a draft ordinance to regulate data centers, spurred by community pressure and the prospect of a large-scale project near the E.W. Brown Generating Station. Residents, including Diane Floyd, a biology professor and organizer, have packed commission meetings, raising concerns about the use of prime farmland and the burden of electricity infrastructure upgrades on ratepayers. Calls for a moratorium on data center development have been made by community members and are gaining traction among some Democratic and Republican political candidates. Separately, in Mason County, the nonprofit "We Are Mason County" has filed a lawsuit against the local government, arguing that an existing ordinance regulating data centers conflicts with the county’s comprehensive plan. Max Moran, a leader of the nonprofit and a Republican candidate for county judge-executive, cites the data center issue as his primary motivation for running for office. State lawmakers, however, failed to pass any significant regulations or limits on data centers during their most recent legislative session, including a bill that would have required utilities to ensure ratepayers don't bear the costs of data center infrastructure.