New AI data center coming to Eastern Kentucky
Maryland-based company Terrell Wolf is developing a new AI data center at the East Park Industrial Complex in Boyd County, Kentucky, near Ashland. The project targets 1 gigawatt of power capacity by 2030, with zoning and permitting already underway. The City of Ashland has an enacted moratorium on new data center applications within its limits, though this project is outside those boundaries.
Maryland-based company Terrell Wolf is set to develop a new Artificial Intelligence data center at the East Park Industrial Complex in Eastern Kentucky. This site, located 12 miles from the city of Ashland, is planned to have long-term power availability, targeting 500 megawatts by the second half of 2028, with an additional 500 megawatts by the second half of 2030. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 500 megawatts of continuous power is equivalent to the average electricity use of over 400,000 US homes.
The City of Ashland's Corporate Counsel, Andrew Wheeler, confirmed that since the data center is outside city limits, the city cannot act against the development. Wheeler noted that Ashland currently has a moratorium in place, prohibiting new data center applications within city limits for a few more months. Terrell Wolf stated that the site has already been zoned, and the permitting process is now underway, with minimal site work required.
Boyd County Judge Executive Eric Chaney addressed community concerns, acknowledging the skepticism often faced by data centers. However, he expressed confidence in learning from other projects nationwide to mitigate potential issues, emphasizing plans for workforce training and long-term economic development. This project brings a significant AI data center development to the region, despite some existing community reservations and local regulatory measures.