Bell County residents pack courthouse to oppose data center construction
Hundreds of Bell County residents gathered at a special fiscal court meeting in Pineville, Kentucky, to oppose a proposed moratorium that would delay data center construction. Residents voiced concerns about water quality and noise, while a proponent argued for the economic benefits of the project. The meeting was the first reading for the moratorium, with a second reading scheduled for July 14th.
A special fiscal court meeting in Pineville, Kentucky, drew hundreds of Bell County residents to the old courthouse on Friday to discuss a potential moratorium on data center construction in the area. Project developers were present but were significantly outnumbered by the vocal community members.
Residents expressed a range of concerns, including impacts on water quality and noise levels. One resident emphasized the broader community impact, stating, "What affects one family, affects all families. What affects these mountains affects all of us." Another resident characterized the project as a "risk" rather than "progress."
Dale Murray, owner of Murray Industries, defended the project, highlighting the "billions of dollars" in investment and pushing back against comparisons to older data center facilities regarding water consumption, citing newer closed-loop systems. Murray warned that if the moratorium passes, Bell County would miss out on jobs and tax revenue, a statement that was met with cheers from the crowd.
The meeting served as the first reading to decide on the moratorium's passage and duration. A second reading is slated for July 14th at 11 a.m. in Pineville.