Data center moratorium

Urged an immediate extension of the data center moratorium, arguing AI data centers are financially unviable and could leave Lexington with an abandoned construction site if the industry bubble pops.

A former Silicon Valley tech worker detailed Kentucky's 56 data centers, the 12-gigawatt pipeline of potential demand, and 14 local moratoriums statewide, and asked for a two-year extension.

Speaking for the No AI in KY coalition, she accused Dart Points of hyping hyperscale plans to investors while telling Lexington it will scale back, and demanded a two-year extension and a ban on data centers over 25 megawatts.

Contrasted Dart Points' investor language about hyperscale AI with its attorney's assurances at the Planning Commission, and questioned 200-kilowatt-per-rack density figures.

A UK instructor and candidate polled the audience against AI data centers and the Flock camera contract, and asked for a public candidate forum before the election.

Cited data center problems in Georgia, New Jersey and Memphis and said he has yet to find a data center that has been a good neighbor; supported the Morton and Curtis motions.

Painted two futures for Lexington — one thriving, one dominated by a data center — and called for an indefinite ban on hyperscale facilities.

A candidate for council at-large speaking as a private citizen, he called the vote an easy political win and urged the council to expedite the Morton and Curtis motions tonight.

A Transylvania University student asked for a two-year moratorium extension and warned against weakening the Morton and Curtis proposals.

A Transylvania special collections librarian urged a two-year extension and firm, unaltered regulations.

Recapped the familiar case — noise, water, grid strain, minimal jobs, the affected neighborhood — and said extending the moratorium is an easy choice if the council is listening.

A No AI in KY activist urged support for the Morton and Curtis motions without amendment and warned the coalition's thousands of members will remember how each member votes.

Called AI data centers a threat to a special place and asked that the Morton and Curtis motions not be watered down before the vote.

Asked for the rules to be suspended so the vote could happen that night rather than being pushed past the election.

A regenerative agriculture professional cited a Bloomberg analysis of 267% electricity price increases near data centers and billions in projected public health costs.

Spoke of Rwandan heritage and resistance to ecological devastation, urging support for the Morton and Curtis moratorium proposals.

Lives less than a quarter mile from the Dart Points site; urged a two-year moratorium and a ban on data centers over 25 megawatts, citing water, air, noise and electric bill impacts.

Asked council to extend the data center moratorium to the end of 2026, and urged ending the Flock Safety camera contract, presenting a heat map showing cameras concentrated in historically Black districts, particularly District 1.

A former Lexingtonian now living in Richmond thanked council for the data center moratorium and asked that it be extended to year's end, citing water, noise, health and cost impacts elsewhere.