At the May 21, 2025, 1:00 PM Technical Review Committee (TRC) meeting, the highly controversial “Project Lincoln,” a massive, 267-acre hyper-scale data center proposal on agricultural and conservational land in the heart of Oldham County — fronted by Western Hospitality Partners (WHP) and represented by Louisville attorney Clifford Ashburner — unraveled in full public view.
In what can only be described as a dismal and deeply concerning performance, the development team failed to offer basic, credible answers to key questions about their massive industrial project. The applicant showed an alarming disregard for the county’s Comprehensive Plan, zoning ordinances, and the fundamental expectations of transparency owed to the public.
More troubling, members of Oldham County’s Planning and Development staff appeared to engage in coordinated efforts to shield the applicant from public scrutiny. Repeated attempts by concerned citizens to ask legitimate, pressing questions were met with obstructions, deflections, and procedural manipulation.
This pattern not only violates the spirit of open government – it exposes Oldham County to serious legal risk.
Wednesday’s meeting lays bare a growing public relations crisis for the Oldham County Fiscal Court. It also raises potential legal consequences that could result from the county’s failure to uphold its obligation to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its residents. If the Fiscal Court continues to ignore due process and enable developer-driven agendas, it is placing Oldham County taxpayers in a precarious and unacceptable position.
Attorney Clifford Ashburner and the “Project Lincoln” team demonstrated that they are unprepared, unaccountable, and out of touch with this community. They failed to articulate how this industrial-scale data center aligns with Oldham County’s rural character, infrastructure limitations, and long-term planning vision. Their unwillingness — or inability — to provide answers speaks volumes.
We urge the Fiscal Court to recognize the legal liabilities and public backlash this flawed process is generating. We call for immediate independent review, a halt to the project’s advancement, and a reaffirmation of commitment to ethical governance, public transparency, and citizen protection.
The people of Oldham County are watching—and we deserve better.
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Nathan Oberg is a long-time resident of Oldham County, graduate of Oldham County High School and president of “We Are Oldham County,” a nonprofit organization that actively opposes “Project Lincoln.” Owning a 50-acre family farm, Nathan has deep roots in the area and a strong commitment to preserving the county’s heritage and natural beauty.
