Kentucky Utilities

Data Center Signal is tracking 14 clips about Kentucky Utilities data center developments across 2 states, including KY, PA.

14Clips

2States

States

Topics

electricity93%

government93%

opposition64%

zoning57%

environmental36%

moratorium36%

announcement29%

water21%

legal7%

News ClipWEKU·Mercer County, KY

Mercer County officials reject regulations to allow data centers next to coal-fired power plant

The Mercer County Fiscal Court unanimously rejected proposed regulations that would have allowed hyperscale data centers near Kentucky Utilities’ E.W. Brown Generating Station. Officials sent the regulations back for further work, while residents and community groups raised concerns about farmland, environmental impacts, historic preservation and nearby neighborhoods.

zoning opposition environmental government moratorium

9/30/2026

News Clipthecooldown.com·PA

AI boom drives plans for Pennsylvania data-center-only power plants, with 5 gigawatts reserved

An AI boom is driving plans for data-center-specific power plants in Pennsylvania, with Invitium Energy, a joint venture of PPL Corp. and Blackstone Infrastructure, reserving 5 gigawatts of combined-cycle gas turbines. This development raises environmental concerns due to reliance on fossil fuels, while politicians are responding to public opposition. Kentucky's Governor Beshear has signed an executive order requiring data center developers to prove no harm to ratepayers or air/water quality.

electricity environmental opposition government

8/13/2026

News ClipWEKU·Hancock County, KY

Kentucky utilities sign Trump’s data center pledge. Critics say it won't shield customers

Several Kentucky utilities, including Kentucky Power, LG&E, KU, Duke Energy, East Kentucky Power Cooperative, and Big Rivers Electric Corporation, have signed President Trump's Ratepayer Protection Pledge. Critics like the Sierra Club argue the pledge is insufficient without proper cost-allocation studies by the Kentucky Public Service Commission. Residents in Hancock County have already voiced concerns about rising electricity costs due to proposed data center projects.

electricity government opposition

7/31/2026

News ClipWYMT·KY

Kentucky utilities sign White House ‘Ratepayer Protection Pledge’ amid AI data center energy concerns

Multiple Kentucky utility companies, including Kentucky Power and PPL Corp., signed the White House's 'Ratepayer Protection Pledge'. This voluntary agreement aims to protect consumers from potential electricity bill increases driven by the rising demand from AI data centers. The pledge emphasizes that new large users should bear the costs of necessary infrastructure.

electricity government

7/27/2026

News ClipLexington Herald Leader·Paducah, Marshall County, KY

KY utilities rush to sign Trump’s data center ratepayer protection pledge

Kentucky's major investor-owned power companies have signed President Donald Trump's Ratepayer Protection Pledge, a federal initiative aimed at ensuring energy-intensive data centers cover their own electricity infrastructure costs. This move is intended to shield residential customers from increased power bills amid growing opposition to large-scale data centers. The pledge encourages utilities to negotiate special rates and requires developers to fund necessary power infrastructure.

electricity government opposition announcement

7/24/2026

News ClipLexington Herald Leader·KY

KY lawmakers didn’t pass data center ratepayer protections. Congress might

Federal legislation, the Ratepayer Protection Act, advanced through a House committee, aiming to prevent data centers from increasing residential power bills. The bill requires state utility regulators to ensure data centers pay their full share of infrastructure costs. This initiative follows stalled state-level efforts in Kentucky and comes amid growing concerns about data centers' high energy consumption.

electricity government opposition

Amazon

7/22/2026

News ClipForward Kentucky·Burgin, Mercer County, KY

Mercer County, Kentucky, faces resident opposition to data center development

Kentucky residents, particularly in Mercer County, are expressing strong opposition to the proliferation of data centers, citing concerns over environmental impact, job creation, and lack of transparency. Congressman Andy Barr is criticized for securing federal funding for a hyperscale data center in Mercer County and his ties to the tech industry. Local officials in Burgin have cancelled meetings to discuss a related annexation ordinance amidst calls for a moratorium.

zoning opposition environmental announcement government electricity water moratorium

7/2/2026

News ClipForward Kentucky·Lexington, Fayette County, KY

Fayette County, Kentucky, proposes strict zoning to limit data center development

Fayette County, Kentucky, is proposing a highly restrictive zoning amendment that would define and limit data centers, effectively banning hyperscale facilities countywide and establishing a 1,000-foot buffer near agricultural land. This comes as other Kentucky counties grapple with a surge of data center proposals, leading to local opposition, legal challenges, and concerns about electricity demand across the state. The proposed policy aims to proactively manage data center growth rather than reactively as seen elsewhere in Kentucky.

zoning opposition environmental government electricity moratorium legal

6/4/2026

News ClipWEKU·KY

Kentucky data center demand could exceed state's electricity generation, report says

A report from Kentucky's Energy Planning and Inventory Commission indicates that potential electricity demand from data centers could exceed the state's total generation capacity. The report urges state leaders to proactively develop policies to manage this demand, protecting customers while still supporting economic development. Public debate on data centers is ongoing in several Kentucky counties.

electricity government zoning

6/4/2026

News Clip2:32LEX News·KY

Program attorney for Kentucky Resources Council pushes for data center transparency

A program attorney for the Kentucky Resources Council is advocating for greater transparency regarding the growing demand for data centers in Kentucky. Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities have reported a pipeline of up to 30 potential data center projects to the Kentucky Public Service Commission, highlighting the significant scale and potential impact of these developments.

government electricity

6/3/2026

News Clipthe-messenger.com·KY

Kentucky utilities report 30 data centers under discussion statewide

Kentucky is grappling with the prospect of numerous hyperscale data center projects, with major utilities reporting as many as 30 potential sites under discussion statewide, demanding significant electricity. While state tax breaks aim to incentivize development, local communities and advocacy groups are raising concerns about electricity costs, water usage, noise, and rural land impact. Some localities, like Cave City, have enacted temporary bans, and Mercer County is considering new zoning ordinances to regulate data centers.

electricity water opposition zoning government moratorium

5/30/2026

News ClipGlasgow News 1·KY

Utilities report as many as 30 data centers under discussion in Kentucky

Kentucky is seeing significant interest from hyperscale data center developers, with utilities reporting dozens of potential projects and massive projected electricity demands. This has led to concerns from local communities regarding electricity costs, water usage, noise, and land transformation, resulting in a moratorium in Cave City and regulatory discussions in Mercer County. State lawmakers have incentivized data centers but a bill to cover infrastructure costs failed.

electricity water moratorium zoning opposition government environmental announcement

5/29/2026

News Clipcitybiz·Lexington, Fayette County, KY

DartPoints Expands AI Infrastructure Footprint With Kentucky Data Center Acquisition

DartPoints has acquired a large-scale data center campus in Lexington, Kentucky, to expand its AI infrastructure footprint. The property features existing infrastructure, an owned substation, and approved zoning to support up to 70 megawatts of power. This acquisition highlights the industry's focus on regional diversification and high-density AI compute demand.

announcement electricity zoning

5/27/2026

News ClipLouisville Public Media·KY

Education, data centers and more: Here’s what Kentucky lawmakers advanced this week

The Kentucky General Assembly is advancing legislation, particularly Senate Bill 197, which aims to regulate new data center development. This bill seeks to prevent utility infrastructure costs for energy-intensive data centers from being passed to current ratepayers and requires data centers to adhere to local zoning rules to qualify for state tax breaks. Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities have expressed opposition to parts of the bill.

government electricity zoning

3/27/2026