Officials with Knox County say they don’t know of any data center proposals for the area, but community members are expressing concern online.
In an email, Knox County Fiscal Court Clerk Amy McAdams said, “we aren’t aware of any Data Center coming to Knox County.”
Community members have been raising concerns online ahead of an Aug. 26 fiscal court meeting. Residents are proposing to use the public comment period to speak out against potential data center development.
Neighboring Bell County passed a data center moratorium in July, effectively pausing a project underway near the Knox-Bell County line.
There are 18 planned data centers across Kentucky, and four are operational as of Aug. 17. But more communities are speaking out against the projects, concerned with the impacts they could have on electricity costs, water quality and more.
Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order Aug. 6, curbing state permits for such developments unless companies can minimize the effects on ratepayers.
The demand for data centers has grown as the use of artificial intelligence and cloud storage booms. Progressive think tank Kentucky Center for Economic Policy reports data center companies could receive millions in tax breaks if the projects are completed.
