- Department of Energy announces a multi-billion dollar investment in McCracken County.
- Governor Andy Beshear's spokesperson stated that the Governor has not been briefed on the project and has questions regarding its impact.
Governor Andy Beshear has expressed concerns over the NextEra Energy data center campus amid the Department of Energy's announcement of a multi-billion dollar investment in McCracken County. The project, which will redevelop portions of the Paducah Site, is set to exceed $100 billion and is expected to create approximately 8,000 construction jobs and 600 permanent jobs by 2031.1
The DOE's partnership with Brookfield, NextEra Energy, Big Rivers Electric Power Corporation, Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative, and Paducah Power System aims to enhance energy generation and storage capabilities. The project will include the development of 2.1 gigawatts of new natural gas-fired generation and 2.6 GW of battery storage to support a new 1.8 GW artificial intelligence and high-performance computing innovation campus.
Secretary of Energy Chris Wright stated, "Thanks to President Trump, the U.S. government is leveraging its assets—like our federal lands—to add power generation, create jobs, and ensure the United States wins the AI race."
However, Gov. Beshear's spokesperson noted that the governor has not been briefed by the involved companies or agencies, raising questions about power, environmental impact, jobs, and tax contributions to the community. Rep. Andy Barr called the investment "historic" for Paducah, expressing gratitude for the federal government's long-term commitment to the project.
“Governor Beshear's spokesperson emphasized that the Governor has not been briefed on the NextEra Energy project, raising questions about its power and environmental impact, job creation, and tax contributions to the community. This statement highlights ongoing concerns as the Department of Energy moves forward with its investment plans.”
