Data center developers discuss plans with Carroll County residents
Poe Companies discussed plans for a hyperscale data center in Carroll County, Kentucky, with local residents and the Fiscal Court. Key concerns raised by residents included potential noise and water usage, while a sheriff questioned the financial distribution of benefits between the city and county. The Fiscal Court did not take a vote, and a site plan for the project is still pending.
Developers from Poe Companies met with Carroll County residents and the Fiscal Court to discuss a proposed hyperscale data center located between I-71 and the Kentucky River. Hank Hildebrand, president of Poe Companies, clarified that a specific site plan is still pending and no vote was taken by the Fiscal Court during the meeting.
Hildebrand addressed concerns about water consumption, stating the facility would need between 2 and 8 million gallons of water annually, comparable to a couple of restaurants, and would not be the county's largest water user. He also mentioned exploring the use of reclaimed water. The City of Carrollton, which owns the majority of the land near its water treatment plant, negotiated a $10 million annual fee for the land purchase. This distribution of funds, giving the city more money than the county, angered Sheriff Ryan Goser, who criticized the lack of transparency from the city.
Residents like Mike Wood, who owns 60 acres near the site, expressed concerns about noise pollution, noting their farm currently measures 54.4 decibels, while the company indicates the data center would not exceed 65.5 decibels with a continuous hum. The proposed center would also require electricity equivalent to 600,000 average homes. Hildebrand confirmed the company would adhere to all state and local regulations, including submitting an energy plan to the Kentucky Department of Environment and Energy as required by the governor's executive order.
Despite the discussions, some residents, including Wood, remained unsatisfied, vowing to fight the project. Judge Executive David Wilhoyt of Carroll County indicated the meeting was solely for an update on the project's status, and no decisions were made.