'They call us old stupid farmers, you know, but we’re not': Family declines $26 million offer to convert their farmland into an AI data center
AI companies may have the cash to throw around, but some can't be bought so easily.
A Kentucky farming family has declined a substantial $26 million offer to convert half of their 1,200-acre land into an AI data center, according to WKRC-TV Local 12. Ida Huddleston, a member of the family, and her daughter, Delsia Bare, expressed their refusal, stating that the figure does not hold much significance to them compared to the rich history and value of their land.
Bare, in particular, emphasized the family's longstanding connection to the property, which has been home to generations of Huddleston and Bare relatives, who have contributed to feeding the nation through agriculture, even during challenging times such as the Depression.
Huddleston, who dismissed the claim that the land is valued at approximately $6,000 per acre, made it clear that she and the rest of her family hold a deep-rooted attachment to the land, believing it to be more than just a commercial asset. She dismissed the offer as a mere "scam," echoing the concerns of many landowners who are wary of the environmental and ethical implications associated with the proliferation of AI data centers.
The land in question is already worth around $6,000 per acre, making the offer ten times its actual value, but the Huddleston family remains steadfast in their decision to preserve the land for future generations. This decision has echoes of ongoing debates surrounding AI development, where ethical concerns and environmental impacts are significant factors in the pushback against the expansion of such facilities.
Written by urgent.news from PC Gamer's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
