Mason County gives final approval on rezoning properties for data center construction

Mason County officials have given final approval to rezone 28 properties located outside Maysville, Kentucky, for the construction of an undisclosed hyperscale data center. This decision advances a project that has been under negotiation with an unnamed company, despite significant public opposition and a recently filed lawsuit.

A local grassroots organization, We Are Mason County, KY, along with their attorney Hank Graddy, filed a lawsuit against the county and its planning commission two months prior. The group argues that the county's current zoning plan fails to adequately specify locations or limits for data center development. During the meeting, Graddy urged officials to ensure a community benefits plan is in writing before the project proceeds, questioning the tangible advantages for Mason County beyond the developer's profits.

Residents have voiced concerns ranging from the developer's undisclosed identity to potential environmental impacts such as pollution, high energy consumption, and the conversion of agricultural land for industrial use. Conversely, Mason County officials assert that the data center project is crucial for economic development, offering well-paying jobs, significant investment, a new tax base to support essential services, and funding for necessary infrastructure improvements. Nick Comer, spokesperson for the East Kentucky Power Cooperative, which operates the nearby Spurlock Power Plant, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the project's benefits for the community. The undisclosed company still holds the final decision on whether to proceed with development.