Mercer County residents voice opposition to data centers
Mercer County, Kentucky, is considering a new ordinance to regulate data center developments. Residents voiced strong opposition to the proposed rules and a large data center campus known as "Project Bluegrass" during a public hearing. The Mercer County Joint Planning and Zoning Commission will meet again next week to discuss community feedback.
The Mercer County Joint Planning and Zoning Commission held a nearly two-hour public comment session in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, on a proposed ordinance to regulate future data center developments. Residents expressed significant concerns regarding the potential impact on their community, environment, farmlands, and water supply. Speakers such as Ronda Devine, Stacy Sellers, and Judith Lunsford urged the commission to protect local resources over developers' interests. Diane Floyd also highlighted a lack of assurances for local first responders to handle potential emergencies.
The proposed ordinance outlines regulations for data centers built outside Harrodsburg city limits, requiring them to be near the E.W. Brown power plant, placing a 1,500-acre cap on data center zoning across the county, and preventing certain farmland from being rezoned. These actions follow the town of Burgin's consideration of annexing several hundred acres of farmland for a proposed data center campus dubbed "Project Bluegrass," which has garnered strong local opposition, with "No Data Center" signs widely displayed. The commission announced another meeting on July 30 to respond to the community's comments and concerns.