Why are Delsia Bare and Ida Huddleston opposing the data center in Mason County?

Delsia Bare and her mother, Ida Huddleston, are opposing the data center to protect their ancestral farmland and log cabin from being replaced by server warehouses, fearing environmental damage and loss of heritage.

What are the main concerns raised by opponents of the data center project?

Opponents are concerned about environmental pollution from light, air, and water run-offs, potential tripling of electricity prices, and the loss of farmland and natural landscapes. They also doubt the promised job creation and economic benefits.

What incentives are being offered to encourage land sales for the data center?

Developers are offering significantly inflated prices for the land, with some offers reaching up to $26,000 per acre, far exceeding the typical market value, and promising infrastructure improvements.

Home / Business and Economy / Farm Families Fight Data Center "Trojan Horse"

Farm Families Fight Data Center "Trojan Horse"

19 Apr

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Summary

Residents fight massive data center on ancestral farmland.
Developers offer inflated prices for land; some residents sell.
Data center construction threatens environmental pollution and increased costs.

Farm Families Fight Data Center "Trojan Horse"

In Mason County, Kentucky, Delsia Bare and her 81-year-old mother, Ida Huddleston, are at the forefront of a community effort to halt the construction of a massive data center. The proposed facility would cover 2,000 acres of farmland, replacing natural landscapes with server warehouses. Initially, Bare had agreed to sell their 530-acre family farm for $26 million, but her mother's distress over leaving their log cabin and flower gardens prompted them to withdraw from the deal in July 2025.

This resistance comes as a major tech company, suspected to be Meta, aims to build a hyperscale data center. Developers have offered significantly inflated prices for the land, with some farmers accepting offers up to $26,000 per acre, far exceeding the usual $4-6,000. Dr. Timothy Grosser, a local physician, refused an $8 million offer for his 250-acre farm, citing concerns about light and air pollution, water run-offs, and tripling electricity prices.