This Kentucky family rejected a $26 million data center offer to protect their farmland
The anonymous buyer, described as a major AI company, was looking for a large site for a new data center. The Huddleston family's property checked the boxes: a big, contiguous tract in the right location. Farmland in Mason County typically sells for about $6,000 an acre, but the offer reflected... Read Entire Article
A Kentucky family decided against a $26 million offer from an AI data center developer to develop part of their 1,200-acre farmland in Mason County. The Huddleston family, whose property was valued at around $6,000 per acre, feared that paving over the land would negatively impact the local food supply and place additional strain on the limited water resources.
The AI company, which is seeking a large site for a new data center, valued the land for its ability to support high-power facilities connected to the grid. The family, led by Ida Huddleston, expressed concern over the potential loss of farmland, which they see as vital to their community's food production and history. They emphasized that $26 million was insignificant compared to the value of their land and its role in feeding the nation.
Despite the Huddleston family's rejection, the AI data center developer reportedly pursued other landowners in the area, resulting in a potential new project nearby. This incident highlights the growing trend of tech companies seeking to build data centers in rural areas due to their specific power and cooling requirements.
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