Bell County residents pack courthouse, vow to fight data center over water, noise, and roads

Bell County residents pack courthouse, vow to fight data center over water, noise, and roads centers on a dispute over a proposed data center in southeastern Kentucky that drew a standing-room-only crowd. Hundreds gathered at Pineville’s old courthouse on Friday for a special-called Bell County Fiscal Court meeting to consider a potential moratorium that would temporarily halt the project, according to WYMT. Residents opposed the development, warning it could strain local resources, particularly water quality, increase noise, and disrupt daily life. Developers were present, including Dale Murray of Murray Industries, who said the investment would be “billions of dollars.” The meeting marked the first reading of a possible moratorium, with a second reading scheduled for July 14. The broader issue ties data centers to the artificial intelligence boom, raising concerns about electricity and water use. Murray argued the comparison is unfair, citing closed-loop systems.