Community group holds strategy meeting in opposition to Lexington data center sale
A Lexington community group, "No Kentucky Data Centers," is actively opposing the sale of a former Lexmark data center to DartPoints Operating Company and future data center development in the area. They held a strategy meeting to mobilize residents, raising concerns about electricity costs, noise, environmental impact, and corporate accountability. A petition has garnered thousands of signatures, and local government officials are engaging with community feedback.
The Lexington community group "No Kentucky Data Centers" is actively organizing to oppose future data center development, following the sale of the former Lexmark data center on New Circle Road to Dallas-based DartPoints Operating Company. The group convened a strategy meeting at Zion Baptist Church, aiming to unite residents against additional data center projects.
Attendees at the town hall voiced multiple concerns. Erin Petrey, with a background in sustainability, highlighted the broader economic context of data centers and emphasized the need for corporate accountability, particularly amidst the AI boom, to ensure communities and the planet do not suffer from companies' record profits. Senator Reggie Thomas, a member of the Senate's AI Task Force, warned of significant financial impacts, citing potential 100% increases in electricity bills for neighboring residents and arguing that any additional infrastructure costs should fall on the data center companies, not the public. Senator Thomas also called for a public vote on any new data center proposals.
Further environmental and community concerns were raised, with one attendee noting that a 70-megawatt facility could emit noise audible for over a mile, potentially destroying neighborhoods, property values, and local wildlife. DartPoints stated their future campus is designed to support 415 volts of power. Community members signed a petition at the event, bringing the total collected since the previous Thursday to approximately 5,500 signatures. Council Member Tyler Morton, who represents the district, confirmed he is incorporating community feedback into his discussions with colleagues regarding data center issues.