Candidates speak during meeting on AI data centers and flock cameras
A candidate forum in Winchester, Kentucky, discussed AI data centers, with several candidates expressing opposition or calling for extended moratoriums due to concerns about energy and water use. The Winchester City Commission previously enacted a one-year moratorium, which candidates generally supported for further assessment. Local officials are considering future implementation with proper oversight.
A candidate forum was held at the Hannah McClure Cardinal Community Center in Winchester, Kentucky, on September 16, 2026, where candidates discussed the contentious issue of AI data centers. Pete Lynch, a Kentucky Party candidate for the U.S. House, initiated the discussion by explaining the differences between traditional and AI data centers, highlighting the latter's higher energy consumption and water cooling requirements.
Winchester City Commission candidate Jim Caldwell, along with U.S. Senate candidate Chris Campbell and Lynch, expressed reservations about the immediate implementation of AI data centers in Winchester. Caldwell supported the existing one-year moratorium passed by the City Commission, advocating for more time to assess technological advancements that could reduce energy consumption. Campbell argued for an even longer moratorium, while interim Clark County Judge-Executive R.J. Palmer suggested that AI data centers could be implemented with proper "guardrails" and oversight, noting the industry's need for grid availability. The forum also touched upon the potential for data centers to provide a good tax base.