Kentucky Residents Given 3 Months to Vacate Homes for Proposed Data Center

Data centers are expanding across the U.S., especially in areas with lower property costs. In Kentucky, a proposed project is displacing an entire community, requiring residents to leave within three months, according to Lex 18 News.

A Fortune 50 company has submitted plans to build a data center on more than 2,000 acres of farmland near a residential area in Maysville, Kentucky.

Residents of Meadowland Village mobile home park received a notice from their landlord, issued on behalf of DPD Property Management, informing them they must relocate within three months.

To assist with moving costs, the developer is offering up to $20,000 per household. However, some residents say the amount may not be enough, especially with approval hurdles tied to the funds. Resident Rico Roberts expressed concern, saying, “$20,000 ain’t nothing.”

Many residents are also worried about finding suitable housing in such a short timeframe.

Roger Purcell, another affected resident, is dealing with kidney disease and relies on a ramp at his home. Moving would require rebuilding or relocating that accessibility feature.

Finding a new place is further complicated by local zoning rules. According to a Mason County, Kentucky ordinance, mobile homes are only permitted in rural residential or agricultural zones.

“There’s no trailer parks around here enough to even absorb half of these trailers,” Purcell said.

Attorney Hank Graddy has filed a lawsuit against Mason County on behalf of Meadowland Village residents.

Across the country, communities are experiencing the effects of the AI-driven surge in data center construction. Rising electricity costs, persistent noise, and water usage concerns are among the most common complaints from nearby residents.

In response, communities are increasingly pushing back against proposed data center projects. While some efforts have succeeded, others have been overlooked by local officials. Meanwhile, state and federal leaders are working to develop regulations for the rapid growth of data centers nationwide.