A graphic of a blueprint for a data center. Text on the graphic reads, When Data Centers Come to Town. Below that is the Porch Light Newsletter logo.
The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom is bringing you a series of features about the impacts of data centers in our region. Photo Credit: Justin Hicks/KPR

The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom Presents:
When Data Centers Come to Town

There’s a new gold rush underway, and this time it’s about computing power. All across Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, developers are proposing and building major data centers.

Some officials are touting the potential economic benefits of the projects. Many residents are packing local meetings throughout the region to push back.

Each week through Sept. 8, 2026, the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom and its seven member stations will bring you a new story about how data centers impact our electricity grid, environment and communities.

Stories

Joe Sonka,About 3 hours ago

Hyperscale Data Centers Provoke Bipartisan Outrage Across Kentucky

Opposition to hyperscale data centers is stoking bipartisanship in Kentucky, with Republicans and Democrats finding common cause in their resistance to local proposals.

Curtis Tate,Aug. 10, 2026

With More Data Centers On The Horizon, Communities Worry About Rising Electricity Bills

Residents across Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia have packed public meetings in recent months to speak out against data centers, with a recurring concern being how they could affect the cost of electricity.

Chris Schulz,Aug. 03, 2026

As Data Centers Eye W.Va., Local Communities Feel Overlooked

Data center development is a fast-growing industry, with projects popping up in seemingly every corner of the country. But that’s not been the case in West Virginia so far. Now, state officials are rolling out the red carpet for the expensive and increasingly expansive projects.

Videos