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Governor says data centers must pay their own energy costs, highlights local revenue potential
Summary
In response to questions about a proposed large data center in eastern Kentucky, Governor Brashear said any such facility would have to pay 100% of its own energy costs, comply with environmental permitting, and be transparent about investment and tax revenue; he said projects could substantially boost local school budgets if conditions are met.
A reporter asked Governor Kevin Brashear about community concerns in Boyd and Greenup counties over a proposed large data center and whether residents could see higher electricity bills. "Any data center that wants to look at Kentucky is gonna have to pay for 100% of its own energy," Brashear said, adding that if new generation is required the project must pay for that as well.
Brashear said the state will require full compliance with environmental laws and permitting and that project developers must demonstrate to communities that they will not cause environmental harms. He emphasized transparency about the scale of investment and expected tax revenue so residents can see what school systems and counties might gain from an agreement.
The governor framed the projects as a trade-off: they could double the budgets of many public school systems and help fund teacher raises and transportation, but may not be suitable for every community. He urged residents to attend local meetings and for companies to explain how they will operate in the community.
On other topics during the question-and-answer period, Brashear reiterated that the state is vetting data-center proposals and that staff (including Tara Wolf, whom he named as working on the project) was reviewing the concerns and answering questions. No specific data-center agreements, company names, or project approvals were announced during the briefing.
