Community has questions about new data center
TeraWulf announced plans to build a 1 gigawatt AI and HPC data center, the Muskie Data Campus, in Boyd County, Kentucky. This announcement has generated immediate public concern and questions regarding its environmental impact, electricity demand, water usage, and the number of local jobs it will create. TeraWulf is scheduling a community informational meeting to address these concerns.
Technology company TeraWulf has announced plans to construct a large artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) data center, named the Muskie Data Campus, in Boyd County, Kentucky, on property along the Industrial Parkway. The facility is projected to exceed 1 gigawatt in capacity and will span approximately 285 acres.
The announcement was met with immediate public concern and questions from residents of the FIVCO counties. Many expressed frustration that a development of this magnitude began without prior public notification, contrasting it with past major projects that underwent extensive public advertising. Key concerns raised include potential negative impacts on the local ecosystem, such as increased light and noise pollution affecting local wildlife, and the risk of water runoff contaminated with toxic chemicals.
Residents also voiced significant apprehension about the data center's high electricity demand, fearing it could lead to increased electric bills, and its substantial water requirements for cooling, which could strain local water supplies. Furthermore, questions were raised about the number of jobs the facility would generate, specifically if local construction companies and individuals would be hired for initial building and if these roles would transition into permanent maintenance positions.
TeraWulf responded by clarifying that the Muskie Data Campus will utilize a closed-loop cooling system, designed to use significantly less water and prevent contaminants from being released into the environment. The company also stated that noise and light pollution levels would be within acceptable standards. However, local activists have cited concerns in New York regarding a TeraWulf affiliate, Cayuga Operating Company, which received a permit to draw approximately one million gallons of water daily from Cayuga Lake for its facility. TeraWulf plans to host a two-day event, including a job fair and a community informational meeting, to engage with residents and address their questions.