Technology companies are spending billions of dollars to build data centers for artificial intelligence, but not all land owners are ready to part with their lands. An eighty-two-year-old Kentucky farmer and her family rejected an offer of more than twenty-six million dollars for the sale of about half of their family farm. An unknown company planned to build a large-scale data center on this territory, but faced a decisive refusal. Ida Huddleston told local reporters that people often call them stubborn farmers, but they are well aware of the threat of the disappearance of fertile land and clean water. The family has owned these lands near Maysville for generations, and during the Great Depression they grew wheat for free bread lines. In addition to a deep personal connection with their native land, the family is seriously concerned about the enormous water consumption of the new project and the potential pollution of the environment.

According to market data, agricultural land in this county usually costs about six thousand dollars per acre, but the company offered Ida sixty thousand dollars for her plot, and her daughter Delcia Baer forty-eight thousand dollars per acre. The total amount of these attractive offers has reached twenty-six million dollars. Delsia admitted that the family initially signed the sale contract, fearing forced purchase of the land through lobbying in local authorities at a much lower price. However, they almost immediately regretted their decision, withdrew from the deal and joined the lawsuit challenging this large-scale project. Ida firmly stated that money means nothing in the absence of clean food, water and air, noting that data centers are not capable of growing crops. While some neighboring landowners have agreed to sell their plots, and the local court approved the rezoning of more than two thousand acres in May, the Huddleston family remains steadfast.

This project comes at a time when major technology giants are investing billions in infrastructure for powerful artificial intelligence models, which is causing growing resistance from local residents due to the strain on water and energy networks. While some lawmakers are calling for a nationwide moratorium, the administration of Donald Trump is taking a non-interventionist position, arguing that the unhindered development of AI is important for national security. Meanwhile, several local governments in different states are considering temporary restrictions, and New York State has already imposed a full-fledged moratorium on the construction of such facilities. Even Texas has instructed regulators to conduct a thorough audit of every major project that wants to connect to the state's main power grid. Although proponents of such facilities often point to the creation of new jobs and tax revenues, most local residents strongly disagree with this assessment and continue to defend their communities.