Letcher County Approves Two-Year Moratorium on New AI Data Centers
The Letcher Fiscal Court in Kentucky has unanimously approved a two-year moratorium on new artificial intelligence data centers. This decision follows resident concerns regarding a proposed natural gas-fired power plant and future AI development. The moratorium also mandates environmental impact studies for any future data center projects.
The Letcher Fiscal Court in Whitesburg, Kentucky, has unanimously enacted a two-year moratorium on the development of new artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. This decision was a direct response to growing concerns voiced by local residents.
Residents expressed worries about potential impacts from a proposed natural gas-fired power plant and future AI development, particularly near the Gateway Regional Business Park in Jenkins. Concerns included water usage, noise pollution, impacts on wildlife, tourism, and nearby neighborhoods.
In addition to the moratorium, the court's vote mandates that all future data center projects undergo comprehensive environmental impact studies. County officials indicated they only became aware of the specific proposal after documents were made public through an Open Records request, noting that many details surrounding the development remain unknown.