Last week, the Lexington City Council approved a four-month moratorium on new data center development, following the private sale of the former Lexmark property. City leaders said they learned of the sale through media reports, prompting swift action from council members.
The moratorium broadly prohibits permits and zoning changes related to data center development while city officials consider future regulations. But many residents said the temporary pause doesn't go far enough.
Several citizens spoke openly to city and state lawmakers; none in attendance showed support for data center projects.
Fayette County Fourth District Council member Emma Curtis opposes the centers.
"As a Lexingtonian, my biggest concern about these data centers is rooted in our ability to protect our people and our resources," Curtis said. "We know that so often data centers kill communities, and I hope Lexington can be known as a community that kills data centers."
Some council members said they were still gathering information, while others openly opposed data center developments in Lexington. Curtis said that, thus far, she has not heard of any support for data centers.
"I have not gotten a single call, a single e-mail, or had a single conversation with a constituent in the fourth district who wants data centers in Fayette County."
Council At-Large James Brown told WUKY he has also not received any messages supporting data centers, but he has learned there are "up sides" to them and is keeping an open mind.
"We recently visited a community that data centers have been in their communities for years, and they talk about some of the benefits, mostly revenue-related," Brown said. "If there are folks that are in support of it or if there's another side of the coin, I think we're making ourselves available to hear all voices in regards to this issue."
Some of the concerns raised regarding data centers include:
- Grid Overloading: Data centers consume massive amounts of electricity, accounting for over 4% of total U.S. power consumption. This rapid growth strains aging regional power grids.
- Clean Energy Delay: Massive energy needs force utilities to delay shutting down coal and natural gas plants. This directly undermines state and global carbon reduction goals.
- Water Scarcity: Large facilities require up to 5 million gallons of water daily for server cooling. Many are built in high water-stress regions, threatening local drinking supplies.
- PFAS Pollution: Data centers rely heavily on semiconductors, cooling systems, and fire suppressants that contain durable "forever chemicals" that accumulate in the environment.
