Maysville, Kentucky, landowner rejects data center proposal, files lawsuit
A Kentucky farm owner rejected a $26 million offer from an AI company, reportedly linked to Meta, to build data centers on her family property in Maysville. Delsia Bare backed out of the deal due to moral objections and has joined other residents in filing lawsuits against the data center construction. The proposed development has deeply divided the local community.
Delsia Bare, a Kentucky farm owner in Maysville, and her mother Ida Huddleston initially agreed to sell their land for a combined $26.4 million to an unnamed AI company. However, upon learning the property would be used for data centers to power artificial intelligence, Bare swiftly withdrew from the deal, famously telling company representatives, "Kick rocks and don't come back."
Bare explained her decision stemmed from a spiritual conviction, fearing she would be "held accountable" for selling the family farm, which has been in her family for approximately 200 years, if it were to become an AI hub.
The anonymous business is believed by the Wall Street Journal to be connected to Meta, which offered a significantly above-market rate for the land. Bare was offered $48,000 per acre for 463 acres, and Huddleston $60,000 per acre for 71 acres. Meta, however, stated to the Journal that no decision had been made about working in the area.
The proposed data center development has caused a deep division within the Maysville community. While some residents have welcomed the economic opportunities and sold their land, Bare and others have filed lawsuits to challenge the construction of the data centers. Tyler McHugh, an economic development director liaising with the AI company, noted the unusual situation of bringing neighbors to court, while Bare expressed surprise at her unexpected role in opposing the development.