DoomsdaysCW<p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Kentucky" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Kentucky</span></a> is welcoming a <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DataCenter" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DataCenter</span></a> boom. But what are the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/environmental" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>environmental</span></a> costs?</p><p>by Connor Giffin<br>April 29, 2025</p><p>"Some of the biggest companies in the world are eyeing Kentucky and neighboring states for data center development, as surging interest in artificial intelligence pushes the industry to scour the country for energy, land and water. </p><p>"The projects carry a promise of historic investment. Experts say they could also deepen some of Kentucky’s foremost environmental challenges.</p><p>"Sprawling data centers have been announced in Jefferson County, across the river in Southern <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Indiana" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Indiana</span></a>, and most recently in Oldham County — where opponents fear a $6 billion proposed project could upend rural character, quality of life and water resources. </p><p>"Data centers are critical infrastructure for internet and cloud services, underpinning everything from emails to online shopping. Due to their vast scale of computational power, cooling systems and other operations, large data centers have an insatiable demand for energy.</p><p>"The major projects coming to the Louisville area will demand hundreds of megawatts — enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes. Data centers are expected to make up 7-12% of all U.S. electricity consumption by 2028, up from 2% about a decade ago.</p><p>"In Kentucky, a small portion of power generation comes from renewable sources, like solar power. Most comes from coal, widely considered the most polluting form of energy, or gas, which also brings emissions with planet-warming consequences.</p><p>"With a looming spike in power demand and pressure to meet that demand, advocates fear utilities could turn to highly polluting fuels. But some hope the demand could also push utilities to diversify with more renewables, as data center operators call for as much power as possible, as soon as possible. </p><p>"The industry has tried to assuage fears of environmental harm. Some data center operators have indicated plans to use renewable energy or take steps in development to protect waterways and preserve green space.</p><p>"State and local officials are welcoming data centers with open arms. The Kentucky General Assembly this year expanded sales and use tax exemptions for 'qualified data center projects' in a bill lobbied by <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Google" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Google</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Meta" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Meta</span></a>."</p><p><a href="https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2025/04/29/kentucky-welcoming-data-center-boom-with-risk-of-environmental-costs/82755013007/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">courier-journal.com/story/news</span><span class="invisible">/local/2025/04/29/kentucky-welcoming-data-center-boom-with-risk-of-environmental-costs/82755013007/</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AIColonialism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AIColonialism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NoNukesForAI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NoNukesForAI</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AISucks" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AISucks</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WaterIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WaterIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Enshittification" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Enshittification</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AIPollution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AIPollution</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NoisePollution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NoisePollution</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DataCenters" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DataCenters</span></a></p>