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Mercer County data center fight taints Lexington bourbon tourism project
A proposed data center project in Mercer County, Kentucky, has become highly contentious after developer Brian Luftman threatened a leading critic. The incident sparked calls for a boycott of Luftman's related bourbon tourism project in Lexington and highlights deep community divisions. Mercer County Fiscal Court has since enacted a year-long moratorium on data centers, and the governor has issued new state-level restrictions.
A downtown Lexington bourbon tourism project, Never Say Die Bourbon, is facing online criticism and boycott calls due to the actions of its developer, Brian Luftman. Luftman, who also founded American Farm Investors, owns land in Mercer County near Shaker Village, eyed for a data center. He is accused of threatening Diane Floyd, an organizer with the opposition group We Are Mercer County, by sending her a mugshot from a past arrest.
Floyd publicly shared the threat, leading former Democratic congressional candidate Erin Petrey to call for a boycott of Never Say Die Bourbon. Luftman has since apologized for his message, stating he let ongoing "Facebook hate and hostility" get to him. He explained that his family and businesses have faced animosity for months from data center opponents.
The Mercer County data center project is currently undergoing due diligence by developer Panattoni, and Luftman claims his contract prevents him from unilaterally withdrawing. In response to public pushback, the Mercer County Fiscal Court unanimously approved a year-long moratorium on data centers on August 11. Additionally, five days prior, Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order imposing energy and environmental restrictions on data center applications statewide, although it does not constitute a full moratorium. The city of Burgin is also considering annexing the land, which could potentially allow the project to proceed.