Mercer County Cities at Odds over Data Center Annexation

Kentucky town moves to annex 1,000 acres for data center as water worries mount

Burgin, Kentucky, is at the center of a dispute over a possible data center project, with opponents warning that the plan could greatly expand the town and put pressure on water resources, emergency response capacity, and its rural identity. The Kentucky Lantern reported that the controversy stems from a proposal to add more than 1,000 acres to the Mercer County boundaries, a move that has drawn criticism from residents and officials in nearby c…

Mercer County cities at odds over data center annexation

An effort by the Mercer County city of Burgin to annex land into its city limits for a potential data center has embroiled the small community in a contentious debate over the impacts of such a project, something that’s also…

A Mercer County city wants to annex land for a potential data center. Another city has concerns. • Kentucky Lantern

The Harrodsburg City Commmission, meeting on July 13, voted to have their city attorney send a letter to the city of Burgin objecting to its process for its annexation ordinance. (Screenshot/Facebook)An effort by the Mercer County city of Burgin to annex land into its city limits for a potential data center has embroiled the small community in a contentious debate over the impacts of such a project, something that’s also raising strong concerns …

Opinion – Richard Nelson: Data centers are leaving an imprint on KY elections, proponents should take heed

On the way to a candidate training event that took me through Mercer County, I couldn’t help but notice the blue and white signs planted along stretches of Highway 127 South with three simple words: NO DATA CENTER. I asked the candidates in Pulaski and surrounding counties if that was an issue in their campaigns. For several, it was. The May 19 primary election results made clear that data centers and land use played into the outcome of several …

A Mercer County city wants to annex land for a potential data center. Another city has concerns. - The Lexington Times

By Liam Niemeyer, Kentucky Lantern · July 20, 2026 An effort by the Mercer County city of Burgin to annex land into its city limits for a potential data center has embroiled the small community in a contentious debate over the impacts of such a project, something that’s also raising strong concerns from local leaders of the county seat. People packed inside the Burgin Independent School building on July 9 for a special-called Burgin city council…