The Kentucky Lantern, an independent and nonpartisan news service, operates from Frankfort, near the Capitol. The mayor of Russell encountered an unexpected opportunity in June. He received word via a consultant’s email about a proposed project by a company from Barcelona. The plan involved establishing a two-gigawatt data center on the former AK Steel site in Russell.
However, there’s a potential hurdle. Russell had recently enacted a moratorium, raising concerns about its impact on the $8-$12 billion project. This development, which the Kentucky Lantern covered in July, could consume over 10% of Kentucky’s summer electricity supply. The ambitious proposal highlights significant stakes not just for Russell, but potentially for the energy landscape of Kentucky.

Leave a Reply