Kathmandu— Delsia Bare, 54, and Ida Huddleston, 83, of Maysville, Kentucky, recently rejected a $26.48 million offer for their 216-hectare family farm, opting to preserve nearly two centuries of agricultural heritage over a substantial financial gain. The land was targeted for development into a 2.2-gigawatt hyperscale data center, fueled by the growing demand from artificial intelligence technologies, but the decision has created friction within the town as other landowners had already agreed to sell their properties and anticipated significant payments. The case highlights a rising trend of disputes surrounding data center construction across the United States, raising concerns about resource consumption and local impact.

Generational Land Ownership

The Bare and Huddleston families have owned the farmland for almost 200 years, traditionally using it to raise cattle and grow tobacco and other crops. This long-standing connection to the land played a significant role in their decision to decline the offer despite its considerable value. A hyperscale data center campus would represent a dramatic shift in land use, replacing agricultural activity with multiple buildings housing thousands of computer servers and extensive supporting infrastructure.

Community Divided By Development

The proposed data center project has deeply divided the community of Maysville. While local development officials tout the potential for 400 permanent jobs and a significant boost to the town budget through increased occupancy and property taxes, opponents express concerns about the environmental and social impacts. With approximately one in four residents living below the poverty line, some locals view Bare and Huddleston as obstacles to much-needed economic opportunity. Several neighboring landowners had already entered into purchase agreements totaling $110 million, but legal challenges brought by Bare and others have delayed those transactions.

Growing Opposition To Data Centers

The Maysville case is part of a broader national trend of resistance to data center construction. Critics point to the substantial electricity and water consumption required to operate these facilities, as well as potential noise pollution and disruption to surrounding areas. A Gallup poll conducted earlier this year revealed that seven in ten Americans oppose the building of AI data centers in their local communities. The issue has even gained traction in political campaigns, with hundreds of candidates across the country incorporating AI or data-center policies into their platforms.

Local Governments Pause Development

Several municipalities are responding to public concerns by reevaluating data center development plans. Seattle implemented a moratorium on new and expanded data centers in June while it reviews its land-use regulations, and Nashville temporarily halted permits for such projects in July. Similar pauses have been adopted in multiple Michigan townships, signaling a growing trend of caution regarding the rapid expansion of data center infrastructure.

The future of the proposed data center in Maysville remains uncertain as legal challenges continue and community debate persists. The case underscores the complex considerations surrounding AI-driven development and its impact on rural communities.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.