A mother and daughter in Kentucky have dismissed a $26 million offer from a developer representing an unnamed Fortune 100 company that aimed to construct a large data center on their farmland.
Ida Huddleston expressed that she’s weary of the ongoing pursuit from developers after rejecting multiple lucrative propositions for her 71-acre property in Mason County, which is valued around $60,000 per acre, totaling approximately $4.26 million, as reported by LEX 18.
Delcia Baer, her 82-year-old daughter, faced a similar situation when developers offered $48,000 per acre for her 463 acres, amounting to over $22 million. Still, she declined the offer.
“I told them I don’t need your money. I feel for the folks around us,” Huddleston said.
The duo’s decision not to sell stems from their belief that the data center would negatively affect their community. They also noted that the persistent pressure from the developer only confirmed their stance to keep their land.
The lack of transparency surrounding the project, especially the identity of the involved company, has only reinforced their desire to protect their property.
“Not knowing who they are really affects how people see their future here,” Baer pointed out.
The proposed site for the data center is near Big Pond Pike Road in rural Kentucky, roughly an hour and a half from Lexington.
Reportedly, several other landowners have also been contacted about selling their land for the development. Local officials believe the project could significantly boost the area’s economy.
Tyler McHugh, economic development director for the Maysville-Mason County Industrial Development Authority, mentioned, “We’re likely one of the largest employers in the region.” He noted that the data center could generate around 400 full-time jobs and over 1,500 construction positions in the area.
However, the mother and daughter remain doubtful about the longevity of those jobs once the data center is operational.
“I doubt there will be more than 50 employees actually staying here,” Baer commented.
As for Huddleston, she’s resolute in her decision. “I’m not going anywhere,” she declared.
Despite the women’s firm stance against selling, the Mason County Fiscal Court’s approval is still required for the project, according to LEX 18.
Notably, big tech companies are increasingly looking to establish data centers in localities. Recently, George Washington University sold its Virginia Science and Technology Campus to Amazon Data Services for $427 million, intending to convert it into a data center.
Additionally, Microsoft plans to build 15 data centers in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, after acquiring land there in 2024.
