Former Burgin School Board Member pushes back on proposed site of data center in Mercer County
Mercer County residents, organized as "We Are Mercer County," are actively opposing a proposed data center on prime farmland near Burgin, Kentucky. The Burgin City Council recently voted to advance an ordinance to annex land targeted by the developer, while the Mercer County Fiscal Court approved the first reading of a proposed data center moratorium. Opponents are pushing for more transparency and stronger protections against such developments, despite these initial government actions.
Residents of Mercer County, Kentucky, are vocal in their opposition to a proposed data center planned for prime farmland, a site near resident Priscilla Harris's home on Handy Pike. Harris, a former Burgin School Board Member, and the community group "We Are Mercer County" have raised concerns for months, advocating for data centers to be built in industrial sites rather than agricultural areas. They view the development as an "invasion of our very way of life" and have gathered thousands of signatures on a petition.
Local government bodies are beginning to address the debate. The Burgin City Council recently voted 3 to 2 to advance an ordinance that would annex land from the county into the city, an area targeted by the data center developer. Additionally, the Mercer County Fiscal Court approved the first reading of a proposed data center moratorium, though its second reading is slated for August 11. Opponents, however, feel these measures do not go far enough and are still seeking greater transparency and more robust protections from their elected officials.
Concerns also stem from a perceived lack of research and a rushed development process. The "We Are Mercer County" group is particularly worried that the draft moratorium may not provide a sufficient pause before permanent regulations are implemented. The Harrodsburg-Mercer County Planning and Zoning Commission was contacted for comment but was unavailable.