17-05-2025
A data center is not a utility. Don't shove it down Oldham County's throat.
In the final days of the legislative session, language was added to a bill and passed before anyone in the public could look at it and learn more. That bill provides a massive tax incentive package to create a 267-acre data center in our county. No one asked us if we wanted such a noisy, environmentally destructive monstrosity. They knew not to ask. We would have told them no. And now, we are.
Through a series of open records requests we have obtained, we have learned that the powers that be have made the unilateral decision that a data center is a 'utility,' which means they think the project can proceed without public comment or planning and zoning approval. Unfortunately, this blatant attempt at bending the law is being exercised on land that is zoned for agricultural use. The attorney on the case at a high-powered law firm is single-handedly making this assumption. She doesn't live here. And she's not one of us, but she's gathering billable hours at our expense every day.
Data centers are springing up all over the country, and in almost every case, they are being shoved down the people's throats with the same playbook they're using here. No community wants a data center on prime agricultural land that can never return to its state once they start pouring concrete all over the county. They are associated with devastating environmental impacts, including alterations to important ecosystems as a result of the noise and light pollution and emissions they chug out. Further, they use vast amounts of water to cool their systems, because, well, they use a lot of energy. LG&E would love to sell it to them with their local monopoly. And a large data center can gobble up to 5 million gallons of water each day.
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State law (KRS 278.010) makes absolutely no allowances for 'data centers' as utilities, and as they provide nothing to the public, that makes sense. To be considered a utility, per state law, the project would have to generate energy 'to or for the public.' We find that a stretch.
We, the people, have told our elected leaders we are opposed to the project. We have raised our voices at fiscal court meetings, at coffee shops and at community meetings. They think they can slide this under the rug and get it done before anyone notices.
We've noticed. We are unhappy with the lack of concern from the people elected by us to represent our interests. We call on them to speak up on our behalf now, before it's too late.
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Nathan Oberg is a long-time resident of Oldham County, graduate of Oldham County High School and president of 'We Are Oldham County,' a nonprofit organization that actively opposes 'Project Lincoln.' Owning a 50-acre family farm, Nathan has deep roots in the area and a strong commitment to preserving the county's heritage and natural beauty.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Oldham County data center offers nothing to the public I Opinion
