As tech companies look to rural areas for expanding data center developments, they have underestimated American farmers' deep connection to their lands, nurtured over decades.
Throughout the nation, numerous farmers are rejecting lucrative offers that reach into the tens of millions, far exceeding the current value of their properties. Despite the financial temptation, they refuse to set a price on their cherished lands.
According to a Monday report by The Guardian, several instances across the country highlight how farmers' refusals have thwarted plans for data center construction in traditionally rural areas.
While the exact number of farmers receiving such offers remains unclear, rural lands are increasingly targeted to meet the growing demand for data centers to support AI, projected to rise by 165 percent by 2030. Hines Research estimates that globally, 40,000 acres will be needed over the next five years to support this growth.
For Silicon Valley executives, rural areas present an attractive option due to 'weak zoning protections, cheap power, and abundant water,' according to The Guardian.
These transactions often begin abruptly, with farmers receiving unexpected visits from intermediaries who fail to disclose the identity of the prospective buyers or intended land use.
For instance, 82-year-old Ida Huddleston from Kentucky rejected a $33 million offer from a 'Fortune 500 company' for her 650-acre property. NBC News reported that several of her neighbors also received similar proposals. After realizing that they would need to sign a non-disclosure agreement merely to learn the buyer's identity, Huddleston and at least five other residents chose not to proceed. Ultimately, Huddleston had to investigate public records to discover that a data center was being planned for the area, reported The Guardian. Farmers argue that transparency is crucial because the intended use of their land matters.
'You don’t have enough to buy me out,' Huddleston told the company representatives, rejecting the offer. 'I’m not for sale. Leave me alone, I’m satisfied.'