Our Hot, Wet Summer

A Summer of Climate Change Impacts

We hope our members and allies are staying safe and healthy during the prolonged wave of heat and excessive rainfall this Summer. Kentucky is experiencing a warmer and wetter climate, marked by an average temperature increase of nearly 3°F and higher annual precipitation. These shifts drive severe flash floods, intense summer heat waves, and agricultural stress across the commonwealth. More climate change impacts from the University of Kentucky here. 

Data Center Updates

Last week, Governor Beshear signed an Executive Orderdesigned to protect Kentuckians “against any harmful impact from potential data centers.” The order directs the Energy and Environment Cabinet to deny permits to any data center site that would negatively impact air quality; water quality, usage and supply; federally protected wetlands and “natural resources”. Developers would have to submit “initial energy plan” to the cabinet explaining how the developer would protect businesses and residents from rising utility bills while not “imposing any additional costs on our families.”  While this is a positive step, we see it as “too little, and late.” Many of the impacts of these facilities are already taking place.

A few months ago, allies came to us, asking our help to prevent data centers from passing subsidies in the legislature. We unfortunately had to point out that lawmakers had already given massive tax breaks, via 2025’s House Bill 775, which began as a four page “shell” bill and grew to 147 pages within the final days of the 2025 General Assembly. We opposed the bill at that time, but the public was still waking up to the potential impact of these operations. 

This is why KCC partnered alongside KFTC back in July to bring fresh attention to this fact, and post a new “call to action” for lawmakers to remove these massive tax breaks. If you did not get a chance to contact your lawmakers, you may still take action at this link. 

Now, as project developers announce tens of billions of dollars to be invested in data center equipment, tax exemptions are poised to soar. Our allies at the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy  estimates the state "could easily forgo over $1 billion in sales tax revenue" by granting incentives to just a few projects. The data center tax break, which was only estimated to cost $15 million a year previously, could quickly become the largest tax expenditure on the books in Kentucky. More from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy here. Before the recent surge of projects, the Kentucky State Budget Director office estimated tax revenue loss from the data center incentives would total $15 million annually in the 2027-28 fiscal years.

Meanwhile, data centers continue to raise concerns throughout the state. TerraWulf’s latest project near Ashland in Greenup and Boyd counties recently reported that it could now double in size, and residents in Louisville are continuing to call on their Metro Government for stronger restrictions on local code amendments for data centers. KCC is continuing to track all of the announcements for new projects and new moratoriums on data center projects. 

More Actions to Take on Data Centers

At 2PM today (Aug. 12), there will be a virtual public hearing on a “Title V” permit for the E.W. Brown Generating Station. This includes a request to add nearly 700mw of gas-fired capacity that is projected from data centers. We urge the public, particularly those in the region of this plant, to submit comments on this project. If you cannot attend the virtual public hearing, you can also submit written comments. See link here for details on the permit application, virtual hearing, and how to submit comments.

The Debate over Bobcats this week

Another item passed last session that is just now getting more scrutiny is Senate Bill 39 (Boswell), a hunting and fishing bill we opposed which included an amendment to allow for night hunting of bobcats and beavers. This week lawmakers discussed the administrative regulations related to this bill, where they allowed regulations to move forward despite bipartisan concern from lawmakers and lack of population data. The proposed regulations will now go before the Interim Kentucky Natural Resources and Energy Committee, where lawmakers on that committee will consider the regulations before becoming finalized. Read more details in this week’s Kentucky Lantern story, and then contact members of the Interim Natural Resources and Energy Committee to express your views on the night hunting of bobcats.

Interim Session is a Great Time to Meet with Lawmakers

While KCC provides experienced legislative agents to present issues on behalf of the environmental community, it is equally important for lawmakers to hear directly from impacted constituents who can tell their own personal stories. KCC is continually making appointments with lawmakers all during the Interim session, and we are glad to work with any constituent who is interested in meeting with their lawmakers as well and help you to prepare. Please contact us!