Fights over data centers—or the possibility of even allowing them—span Kentucky.
Hancock County just saw a data center proposal that could amount to a $14 billion investment—which, if approved, would be one of the largest single investments in not just the western Kentucky county of 9,000, but in Kentucky’s history.
Simpson County in the south, Meade and Mercer counties in the more central chunk of the state, and Mason County in northeast Kentucky have also seen some level of data center debate, often met with swift pushback from community members.
Oldham County—a wealthier suburb north of Louisville—beat back a proposed data center last year, while a more working class-area of southwest Louisville is gearing up for a hyperscale data center to be built despite fierce opposition from the community.
Kentuckians’ concerns echo those facing data center proposals across the county: Issues with already unaffordable utility costs getting even worse, fears of how the centers will impact Kentucky’s environment and farmland, and frustrations around big corporations coming in without bringing big numbers of jobs with them.
Despite the growing anger over data centers, lawmakers failed to regulate them during Kentucky’s 2026 legislative session, with bills to protect consumers from spiking energy costs falling short of becoming law.
Without regulatory guidance from the state or federal level, any sort of regulatory efforts fall on local city and county leaders.
Cave City—home to Mammoth Cave—recently approved a one-year pause on data center development, and Plum Springs—a small town near Bowling Green—is slated to take a similar vote in June. This mirrors similar moratoriums that have been enacted in other communities around the US as popular opinion turns against data centers.
“It is more preemptive,” Plum Springs City Commissioner William Dakota Compton told Hellbender Newsroom. While the county at-large had a handful of applications for potential data centers, they had been shut down by planning and zoning, he explained. “We are doing this to get ahead of the issue.”
Hellbender asked Kentuckians what they thought about data centers. Here’s some of what they said.
What do you think about data centers? Is there a data center fight brewing in your community? We want to hear about it—fill out our survey and let us know.
“I think they are propping up bad investments from the ruling class and taking resources from local communities. They waste land and water and power and just continue more of large tech companies’ spying on people to sell ads.” —Mason K., Fayette County
“We have a uniquely fragile power system in Eastern Kentucky and the thought of data centers encroaching on that is worrisome. On the other hand, it feels like possibly a necessary evil especially at the rate technology is going.” —Merisa F., Pike County
“Data centers are a drain on the local environment and economy. Communities will carry the burden of the rising costs for power and the excessive use of natural resources like water. And they are an eyesore and source of noise and light pollution.” —Megan, Oldham County
“Data Centers pollute and consume way too much water and electricity. Tech oligarchs really want to monetize AI by telling us we HAVE to have it, but they are selling us a terrible, not-ready-for-market product.” —Chris O., Jefferson County
“No one likes them! They don’t provide jobs but instead disrupt the environment and water usage, drive up electricity costs and strain the power grid, and omit a horrible noise.” —Micah, Woodford County
“The claims of data centers using too much water and all that are red herring arguments and not well thought out. Data centers are coming and need to be embraced. The current kickback is like if people had gotten upset when Gutenberg invented the printing press because it would exhaust the world’s supply of ink, paper fiber, and put scribes out of work.” —Jeff M., Fayette County
