#Datacenter builders thought #farmers would willingly sell land, learn otherwise

Even in a fragile farm economy, million-dollar offers can’t sway dedicated farmers.

Ashley Belanger – Feb 23, 2026

Excerpt: "For 'Silicon Valley executives,' rural areas are likely attractive due to 'weak zoning protections, cheap power, and abundant water,' The Guardian reported.

"It likely doesn’t help to sell the farmers these deals when they tend to come out of nowhere, following a knock on the door from a middleman who doesn’t make it clear who wants to buy the land or how the land would be used.

"One 82-year-old Kentucky woman, Ida Huddleston, turned away a 'Fortune 500 company' offering $33 million for 650 acres. NBC News reported that several of her neighbors received similar offers. Huddleston joined at least five other residents in the county who refused to move forward after learning they’d have to sign a non-disclosure agreement just to find out who they would be dealing with. Ultimately, Huddleston had to search public records to figure out that a data center was even being planned in the area, The Guardian reported. The #LackOfTransparency is a problem, farmers have said, because what buyers want to do with the land matters.

" 'You don’t have enough to buy me out,' Huddleston told the company representatives when rejecting the deal. 'I’m not for sale. Leave me alone, I’m satisfied.' "

Read more:
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/im-not-for-sale-farmers-refuse-to-take-millions-in-data-center-deals/

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/DB229

#Datacenters #LandIsLife #NoDatacentersOnFarms #NoAI
#AISucks #NoWaterForAI
#NoNukesForAI #SendTechBrosToMars #NoMoreDatacenters #WaterIsLife #USPol

#Arizona city unanimously rejects #AI #DataCenter after residents' outcry

Story by Alex Nitzberg, 12/12/2025

"The #ChandlerAZ, city council voted unanimously Thursday against clearing the way for construction of an AI data center.

"Cheers and applause erupted after the unanimous vote outcome was announced.

"Ahead of the vote, multiple people delivered remarks to register their opposition to the prospect of allowing the construction of the center, and some in the audience held signs opposing the proposed project.

"Some people held up signs that read, 'NO MORE DATACENTERS.'

"Former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema had been lobbying in favor of the proposed project.

"During an Oct. 15 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, she spoke out in support of allowing the project to proceed, noting she was there on behalf of Active Infrastructure and that she is co-chair of the #AIInfrastructureCoalition.

"#ActiveInfrastructure is the developer that had been pushing for the project.

" 'Chandler right now has the opportunity to determine how and when these new, innovative AI data enters will be built. When federal preemption comes, we'll no longer have that privilege,' Sinema warned.

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-1 at that October meeting in favor of recommending approval of rezoning for the project."

Source:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/arizona-city-unanimously-rejects-ai-data-center-after-residents-outcry/ar-AA1SfoA1

#NoMoreDatacenters #WaterIsLife #Arizona #USPol #NoWaterForAI

No more data centers: Ohio township pushes back against influx of Amazon, others

https://www.usatoday.com

#HackerNews #NoMoreDataCenters #OhioTownship #Amazon #Influx #TechPolicy #CommunityResponse