Ag Commissioner sends letter to Cave City officials opposing use of agricultural land for data center

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell sent a letter to the Cave City City Council on May 11, the day of a City Council meeting, opposing the use of agricultural land to construct a proposed data center.

In the letter, Shell urges the city council to protect prime farmland and agricultural viability.

He cites a 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture that shows Kentucky has lost approximately 546,000 acres of farmland over the past five years.

Shell says that the proposed ordinance, if approved, would “set a troubling precedent.”

The letter states, “Economic development is important, but it must be balanced with responsible land-use planning. Barren County and Cave City should prioritize development in areas already zoned for commercial or industrial use, including brownfield sites or areas with existing infrastructure.”

Continuing coverage:

Monday, May 11: Cave City data center debate

Wednesday, May 13: Cave City community reflects on Data Center-focused meeting

Read the full letter:

Shell's Letter to the Cave City City Council Opposing Data Center