Kentucky Counties Weigh Pros and Cons of Data Center Development

Christian County Judge Executive Gilliam discusses data center interest across the state and the need for careful evaluation of proposals.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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While data center development is becoming more common across the United States, officials in Kentucky are carefully considering the potential impacts and requirements of these facilities. Christian County Judge Executive Jerry Gilliam attended a recent Kentucky Association of Counties conference where data centers were a topic of discussion. Gilliam noted that while there has been interest in data centers in other parts of the state, there have been no formal inquiries for Christian County. He emphasized the need to ensure any potential data center proposals are a good fit for the community, taking into account factors like infrastructure requirements and job creation.

Why it matters

Data centers can bring economic development opportunities, but they also have significant infrastructure needs like electricity and water that must be carefully evaluated. As more counties across Kentucky field inquiries about data centers, officials are working to develop best practices to ensure any potential projects align with the community's goals and resources.

The details

During the Kentucky Association of Counties conference, officials discussed topics like jail reform and AI usage, but data centers were also a focus. These centers are dedicated facilities that corporations use to store their digital data on physical hard drives. However, Gilliam noted that not all data centers have the capital to invest in the infrastructure required to run the facilities, such as electricity and water requirements. Similarly, many centers do not generate job numbers that justify the electricity demand, which can make them less favorable developments.

  • On February 10, 2026, Gilliam discussed data center interest during the Christian County fiscal court meeting.
  • Gilliam attended the Kentucky Association of Counties conference where data centers were a topic of discussion.

The players

Jerry Gilliam

The Christian County Judge Executive who attended the Kentucky Association of Counties conference and discussed data center interest in the region.

Kentucky Association of Counties

The organization that hosted the conference where data centers were discussed among officials from across the state.

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What they’re saying

“There's quite a bit of conversation about data centers as they're starting to pop up.”

— Jerry Gilliam, Christian County Judge Executive (Christian County Now)

“My goal is simply to ensure we are prepared for these inquiries and are asking the tough questions upfront. We have a strong inventory of sites for economic development, we just need to ensure that whatever project moves forward is a good fit for our community.”

— Jerry Gilliam, Christian County Judge Executive (Christian County Now)

What’s next

Officials across Kentucky are continuing to discuss best practices and considerations for evaluating potential data center proposals to ensure any projects align with the needs and resources of their respective communities.

The takeaway

As data center development becomes more prevalent, Kentucky counties are proactively working to develop a framework for carefully assessing these proposals to balance the potential economic benefits with the significant infrastructure requirements and community impacts.