‘I was not briefed’: Andy Beshear says Trump sidelined him on Kentucky data center plan
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed frustration over not being briefed by the Trump administration and project funders NextEra Energy and Brookfield Asset Management about a proposed $100 billion data center campus in Paducah. He recently signed an executive order to establish baseline standards for data centers, focusing on power costs and environmental impact, reflecting growing public and political unease about such developments.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear criticized the Trump administration, NextEra Energy, and Brookfield Asset Management for not briefing him on a proposed $100 billion data center campus in Paducah, Kentucky. The project, known as the Paducah American Energy Hub, is planned for a 3,500-acre Department of Energy site and aims to include on-site natural gas generation and large-scale battery capacity to power a massive data center. Beshear stated he was only notified of an upcoming announcement, not the project's scope, power demands, or environmental impact.
The governor's concerns highlight the political tension around data center development, especially as he considers a presidential run. Beshear recently signed an executive order establishing basic standards for data centers, directing utility regulators to prevent increased electricity costs for Kentuckians and requiring developers to submit energy plans addressing environmental impacts. This move mirrors similar actions by other Democratic governors in states like New York and Pennsylvania, who are balancing economic development with public anxieties over AI infrastructure, power prices, and environmental concerns.
Local residents in Paducah have expressed unease about the project's potential impact on utility prices and the environment, despite Mayor George Bray's support for the site's existing infrastructure and remote location. Democratic candidate Michael McVicker also raised concerns about the data center's potential uses, such as supporting surveillance technologies. Beshear maintains he needs more information before deciding on support or opposition, emphasizing that local communities should ultimately decide on such projects within state-defined "guardrails."