US farmers are rejecting multimillion-dollar datacenter bids for their land

4 hours ago

Ida Huddleston and her neighbors in Mason County, Kentucky, were offered millions for their farmland by a Fortune 100 company for a datacenter project.
Many farmers, including Huddleston, refused to sell despite lucrative offers, citing deep personal and generational ties to the land.
Datacenter development is booming, with land prices skyrocketing, but resistance from farmers highlights cultural and environmental concerns.
Some farmers worry about the environmental impact of datacenters, including strain on power grids, water supplies, and wildlife habitats.
Local officials argue datacenters bring jobs and tax revenue, but farmers prioritize preserving agricultural heritage over financial gain.
The conflict underscores a broader tension between industrial development and rural identity, with some farmers refusing to sell regardless of price.

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