City manager shares thoughts about data center
The city of Pikeville, Kentucky, is in discussions with an unnamed company about building a $250 million data center in its industrial park. City residents are already expressing concerns regarding potential impacts on power rates, water consumption, and the sewer system. The city manager, however, encourages the public to be fully informed before opposing the project.
The city of Pikeville, Kentucky, recently announced it is in preliminary discussions with a company interested in constructing a data center within its industrial park, an estimated $250 million investment. According to the city manager, the industrial park is strategically well-positioned for such development, boasting 35 megawatts of available power, along with water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.
Despite the early stages of discussion, city residents have already begun to voice concerns. These concerns largely mirror those of city officials, focusing on potential impacts to power rates, water consumption, and the integrity of the sanitary sewer system. The city manager acknowledges these worries but emphasizes the potential economic benefits and urges the public to seek comprehensive information and ask informed questions before forming opinions or opposing the project, lamenting automatic rejection without facts.