Kentucky regulators approve power agreement for Hawesville data center
Kentucky regulators approved a 15-year power agreement for TeraWulf's large data center campus in Hawesville, Hancock County. A local resident voices strong opposition, citing concerns about noise, water use, and strain on the power grid, and demands further protections and environmental studies before the project proceeds.
Kentucky's Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a 15-year power agreement for TeraWulf's Justified Data Center Campus in Hawesville, Hancock County. The agreement allows the facility to use over 480 megawatts of electricity, a move that the company has stated precedes intentions for expansion. While the PSC concluded the agreement offers "adequate protections" for existing electricity customers, a Hawesville resident, David Landers, has voiced strong opposition in an opinion piece.
Landers, a soon-to-be father, argues that "adequate isn't enough" and demands a full understanding of the project's impacts on health and the environment. He highlights unresolved concerns regarding noise pollution, air contaminants, extreme water use, and the potential for increased energy costs for ratepayers, drawing parallels to issues faced by communities near data centers in Cheyenne, Wyoming (Meta data center wastewater) and Lake Tahoe (energy crisis). Landers urges Hancock County and Kentucky officials to advocate for residents, demanding developers provide real data, publicly disclose full environmental impacts, and implement meaningful protections before the facility becomes a permanent neighbor.