The site
The site from above
Power
Power and the grid
None energized or contracted yet
Grid power from East Kentucky Power CooperativeTariff approved, no contract
first phase only; no special contract is filed, and loads over 250 MW require dedicated new resources under the data center tariff Utility regulator · Oct. 2025
Full campus, reported ceilingReported, unplanned
press figure for up to six buildings; no service plan exists for it News report · Oct. 2026
ApprovedProposed
Not used, not on record, or dropped
- On-site generation None plannednone proposed; backup generator permits would come later Utility regulator · Oct. 2025
Getting on the grid
Who supplies what, what it costs, and what is still not public.
- Oct. 30, 2025Data center tariff approvedThe state regulator approves East Kentucky Power's Rate DCP with a six-month prepayment deposit, and requires every special contract to come back for approval. Utility regulator · Oct. 2025
- July 31, 2026Local co-op adopts a data center rateFleming-Mason Energy, the retail co-op, adopts a data center rate schedule to protect its other members. Company · July 2026
- Aug. 6, 2026Governor's order takes effectExecutive Order 2026-494 requires an energy plan for new data centers and bars shifting their costs to other ratepayers. News report · Aug. 2026
- Oct. 13, 2026Meta agrees to pay for power supplyThe development agreement has Meta pay all costs to supply its power, estimated at several hundred million dollars, with none passed to other customers. Local government · Oct. 2026
- Not setSpecial contract: not filedNo power contract between Meta's subsidiary and East Kentucky Power is on file with the state regulator. see Permits
- A 138 kV East Kentucky Power line crosses the site area and a 345 kV line is about 3 km away (mapped data, approximate). OpenStreetMap · Oct. 2026
- No utility service agreement can start until the state approves a special contract, with minimum billing set in that contract. Utility regulator · Oct. 2025
Permits
Permits checklist
2 pending · 4 granted · 2 checked, nothing on file
- ◷Water, sewer, building and road approvals PendingCity of Maysville and others · Oct. 15, 2026: conditions the agreement says must be met before the project is real (press) News report · Oct. 2026
- ◷State data center sales tax exemption PendingKentucky Qualified Data Center program · Oct. 15, 2026: Meta will apply; the state has not granted it to any data center yet News report · Oct. 2026
- ✓County data center regulations GrantedMason County Fiscal Court · Feb. 27, 2026: Ordinance 26-01 adopted at second reading Local government · Feb. 2026
- ✓Rezoning to rural industrial, ~2,080 acres GrantedMason County Fiscal Court · May 22, 2026: Ordinance 26-03 adopted at second reading; the planning commission had approved it on Apr. 1 Local government · May 2026
- ✓Development plan GrantedMaysville-Mason County Joint Planning Commission · April 22, 2026: approved with a landscape buffer condition Local government · April 2026
- ✓Development, bond and road agreements GrantedMason County Fiscal Court · Oct. 13, 2026: unanimous; 40-year industrial revenue bonds News report · Oct. 2026
- –Checked, nothing on file: Power special contract, Air permit
Risks
What could slow it down
- HighNo power contractNo special contract is on file with the state regulator, and loads over 250 MW need dedicated new resources before service. Utility regulator · Oct. 2025
- HighLand not closedClosings only begin in Nov. 2026, and some holdout landowners refused a roughly $26M buyout (press). News report · Oct. 2026
- MediumPending lawsuitA second suit over the approval process is pending after the first was dismissed. see Lawsuits
- MediumOrganized oppositionA petition had 1,429 signatures and a county moratorium was proposed as of Oct. 2026. News report · Oct. 2026
- MediumState tax breaks uncertainKentucky has not yet granted its data center tax exemption to anyone, and legislative leaders have signaled it could be cut. see Permits
Lawsuits
2 cases on record
- Filed Mar. 27, 2026; dismissed June 23, 2026; motion to vacate denied Aug. 17, 2026 We Are Mason County KY Inc., first suitKentucky state court News report · Oct. 2026challenged the county's approval process
- Pending (Oct. 2026) We Are Mason County KY Inc., second suitKentucky state court News report · Oct. 2026similar challenge; noted in the development agreement
Money
Money on record
$10B
capital investment Meta commits to
community benefits agreement; self-funded by Meta News report · Oct. 2026
$130M+
minimum infrastructure commitment
includes $45M for a Maysville water treatment plant and a $15M public safety fee Local government · Oct. 2026
$7M a year
payments in lieu of taxes per phase
$5M to the county and $2M to schools, plus $2M per building to the school board Local government · Oct. 2026
Several $100M
power supply costs Meta agrees to bear
none to be passed to other customers Local government · Oct. 2026
$45M water plant
Meta funds a new Maysville treatment plant, plus $40M to $60M for water and sewer expansion
Not on record: outside lender or equity: county bonds are not county debt, Meta pays all issuance costs Local government · Oct. 2026
Timeline
What happened, and what is due
SitePaper trailConstructionPowerPermitsMoneyLegalUpcoming
- Oct. 31, 2025Site Press reports an undisclosed company's plan for a 1.2 GW data center in Mason County News report · Oct. 2025
- Nov. 2025Site An anonymous developer is reported surveying about 5,000 acres near Big Pond and Tuckahoe roads News report · Nov. 2025
- Feb. 27, 2026Permits The county adopts data center regulations Local government · Feb. 2026
- March 12, 2026Permits The local development authority applies to rezone 28 properties, about 2,080 acres, for a data center Local government · March 2026
- March 27, 2026Legal We Are Mason County KY files its first lawsuit over the approval process News report · March 2026
- May 22, 2026Permits The Fiscal Court adopts the rezoning to rural industrial at second reading Local government · May 2026
- June 23, 2026Legal A judge dismisses the first lawsuit; a motion to vacate is denied Aug. 17 News report · June 2026
- Oct. 13, 2026Permits Meta is named as developer, and the Fiscal Court unanimously approves the development, bond and road agreements News report · Oct. 2026
- Oct. 15, 2026Legal A second, similar lawsuit is reported pending News report · Oct. 2026
- Nov. 2026Site Land purchase closings are due to begin Local government · Oct. 2026
- Oct. 13, 2029Construction Forecast outer limit for phase 1 construction to begin (within 36 months of signing) Local government · Oct. 2026
Construction activity
Satellite captures by quarter
Since Feb. 2022: 65 satellite captures. The chart starts in the first quarter of 2023; 4 earlier records are not drawn.
Satellite
’23
’24
’25
’26
Dot size: records in the quarter, largest = 5. Two-digit years mark each first quarter.
The buildings
Specs
Up to 6 buildings
of 718,740 sq ft each in the rezoning documents; five phases
100+ then 400+ jobs
permanent jobs after phase 1 and at full buildout, company estimate; 2,000 to 4,000 construction workers
- Closed-loop cooling: zero operational water for cooling once filled, developer says Local government · Oct. 2026
Who is involved
Owners, partners and builders
Developer
- Meta Platforms, Inc.: developer and owner-operator
- Crisham LLC: Delaware subsidiary and counterparty to the county agreement
- Frost Brown Todd (attorney Tanner Nichols): counsel through zoning
- Stantec: boundary survey and development plan
Local government
- Mason County Fiscal Court (Judge-Executive Owen McNeill): approved the agreements
- Maysville-Mason County Joint Planning Commission
- Maysville-Mason County Industrial Development Authority: filed the rezoning, potential purchaser
- City of Maysville: water and sewer provider
- Mason County School District: payment recipient
Power
- East Kentucky Power Cooperative: wholesale supplier under Rate DCP
- Fleming-Mason Energy Cooperative: retail co-op
- Kentucky Public Service Commission: must approve any special contract
Opponents
- We Are Mason County KY Inc. (attorney Hank Graddy): plaintiff in two suits
- Holdout landowners inside the planned assemblage
County advisers
- Kimley-Horn: consultant on the data center text amendment
Still unknown
Open questions
- Whether the 396 MW is IT or utility load.
- Any power contract with the state regulator.
- Whether the land closings begin in Nov. 2026.
- The executed agreement's termination terms, and the outcome of the second lawsuit.
Where this comes from
295 records from 20 documents
Drawn from news reports, local government records, public and commercial datasets, utility regulator dockets, company statements and satellite captures, each kept with its date and source. The bar shows documents by type.
News report 12Local government 4Dataset 3Utility regulator 2Company 1Satellite 0
Evidence
Every quote behind this page
Grade key: A = the primary record itself (permit, filing, exhibit) · B = a dated official statement · C = news reporting. Map distances are our own measurements on OpenStreetMap and carry no grade. Allegations in lawsuits are marked as such in the quotes.
Power (26)
- Interconnection status: No EKPC special contract filed or approved as of Oct. 18, 2026; Rate DCP requires a PSC-approved special contract and, above 250 MW, dedicated resources before service“each data center will be required to enter into a special contract for service and the contract must be approved by the Commission”Utility regulator · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Acres: 2900 acres“The Initial Phase of the Project will consist of the development of one 396 MW data center and related facilities on approximately 2,900 acres of land”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Utility service: 396 MW“The Initial Phase of the Project will consist of the development of one 396 MW data center and related facilities on approximately 2,900 acres of land”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Power plan: grid“the Applicant will contract with EKPC for its operational power needs”Local government · March 2026 · grade A
- Utility: East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc. (EKPC) - wholesale generation/transmission; Fleming-Mason Energy Cooperative, Inc. - retail distribution“EKPC provides electric generation capacity and electric energy to its 16 Owner-Member Cooperatives”Utility regulator · Oct. 2025 · grade A
- Grid operator: PJM“EKPC's transmission system is operated by PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM), of which EKPC has been a fully integrated member since June 1, 2013”Utility regulator · Oct. 2025 · grade A
- Rate class: EKPC Rate DCP (Data Center Power), P.S.C. No. 35, with Dedicated Resources Rider“EKPC's Rate DCP tariff is approved, as modified in this Order, for service rendered on and after the date of this Order”Utility regulator · Oct. 2025 · grade A
- On-site power technology: none proposed“Electric service to Eligible Data Centers will be served exclusively by the Owner-Members”Utility regulator · Oct. 2025 · grade A
- Retail co-op: Fleming-Mason Energy Cooperative, Inc.“Fleming-Mason is one of sixteen (16) members of East Kentucky Power Cooperative”Utility regulator · Dec. 2017 · grade A
- Paper or real: Paper stage: rezoning and county agreements are documented, but no land has closed, no PSC special contract exists, no air or water permits were found, no COD is published, and Phase 1 may start at any poi“Company commits to purchase land for the Project with closings on those properties starting in November”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Fleming-Mason Energy reports it has proactively adopted a specialized data center rate schedule allocating costs between data centers and the cooperative“has proactively adopted a specialized data center rate schedule designed with one priority in mind: protecting our existing members”Company · July 2026 · grade B
- Nearest substation: none mapped on the map within 30 kmMeasured on OpenStreetMap map data.
- Nearest power line of 345 kV or more: 2.91 km - 345 kV lineMeasured on OpenStreetMap map data.
- Nearest power line of 138 kV: 0.00 km - 138 kV line (East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc.) crosses the anchor pointMeasured on OpenStreetMap map data.
- Nearest gas pipeline: 1.64 km - Columbia Gas Transmission (Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC)Measured on OpenStreetMap map data.
- Development agreement: Mason County Fiscal Court approved development / community benefits agreements with Crisham LLC on Oct. 13, 2026; Meta publicly named as developer the same day; Phase 1 is one 396 MW data center (fisc“the fiscal court signed off on three agreements needed for Meta to establish a data center campus in Mason County”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Stated campus size: 2,200 MW“Power capacity has been said to possibly reach up to 2.2GW”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Stated campus size: 400 MW“Initial development would focus on one nearly 400-megawatt data center building between 600,000 and 800,000 square feet, with a full build-out of up to six buildings”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Stated campus size: 2,200 MW“Power capacity has been said to possibly reach up to 2.2GW”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Interconnection status: utility named, no executed power agreement public - the county development agreement (approved Oct 13, 2026) requires Meta (via Crisham LLC) to work with East Kentucky Power Cooperative to secure“The agreement requires Meta to work with Eastern Kentucky Power Cooperative to secure power for the site, pay for transmission upgrades anticipated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Stated campus size: 2,200 MW“Power capacity has been said to possibly reach up to 2.2GW”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Stated campus size: 396 MW“The initial phase would consist of one 396-megawatt data center and related facilities”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Stated campus size: 396 MW“The initial phase would consist of one 396-megawatt data center and related facilities”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Building sq ft: 718740 sq ft per building“the campus will consist of six 718,740 sq ft (66,773 sqm) data center buildings and three substations”News report · May 2026 · grade C
- Stated campus size: 1,200 MW“an undisclosed company's plan to operate a prospective data center in Mason County that would use a staggering 1.2 gigawatts (1,200 megawatts) of power”News report · Oct. 2025 · grade C
- Portfolio context only (not campus capacity): EKPC is planning ~1,100 MW of additional generation over the next decade across its system“EKPC is planning an additional 1,100 megawatts of generation over the next decade”News report · Oct. 2025 · grade C
Money and contracts (57)
- Aliases: Crisham LLC; Mason County Technology Campus; Maysville hyperscale campus“Mason County proposes to contract with Crisham LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for the development and operation of a multi-year, hyperscale data center project”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Current target date: Not disclosed; Phase 1 construction forecast to begin within 36 months of agreement execution“Initial Phase is forecast to begin within 36 months of the execution of the Development Agreement”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Financing: Self-funded by Meta; county IRB structure - the county issues industrial revenue bonds, holds title and leases the project to the company; IRBs are not county debt“IRBs are not the debt of the County”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Incentives: Property tax exemption via 40-year IRB/PILOT structure; PILOT $5M to the county and $2M to the school district per phase per year; supplemental $2M per building per year to the Board of Education; school util“Estimated PILOTs are $5,000,000 annually to County and $2,000,000 annually to Mason County School District for each Phase of the Project”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: scope Initial Phase: one 396 MW data center and related facilities on approximately 2,900 acres; up to 6 data center buildings total“The Initial Phase of the Project will consist of the development of one 396 MW data center and related facilities on approximately 2,900 acres of land”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: phase 1 start deadline Phase 1 construction forecast to begin within 36 months of execution of the Development Agreement“Initial Phase is forecast to begin within 36 months of the execution of the Development Agreement”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: land purchase Company commits to purchase land for the Project, closings starting in November 2026 (Recital A)“Company commits to purchase land for the Project with closings on those properties starting in November”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- PILOT agreement: pilot county payment 5000000 USD per phase per year“Estimated PILOTs are $5,000,000 annually to County and $2,000,000 annually to Mason County School District for each Phase of the Project”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- PILOT agreement: pilot school payment 2000000 USD per phase per year“Estimated PILOTs are $5,000,000 annually to County and $2,000,000 annually to Mason County School District for each Phase of the Project”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- PILOT agreement: utility tax schools Not less than $10,000,000 in Utility Taxes for Phase I, plus $2,500,000 for each additional phase USD“PILOT Agreement provides School District with not less than $10,000,000 in Utility Taxes for Phase I and an additional $2,500,000 for each additional Phase”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- PILOT agreement: supplemental school payment 2000000 USD per building per year“$2,000,000 per data center building as supplemental annual payments to support the Mason County, Kentucky Board of Education”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- PILOT agreement: tax stabilization PILOT payments and Utility Tax commitment apply notwithstanding a change in the law“PILOT payments and Utility Tax commitment will apply notwithstanding a change in the law”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: infrastructure commitment total 130000000 USD minimum“Company is prepared to make a capital commitments of no less than $130,000,000 for infrastructure improvements”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: water sewer expansion 40000000-60000000 USD“$40,000,000-60,000,000 for expansion of water and sewer service. Section VI.1”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: water treatment plant 45000000 USD“$45,000,000 for the development of a new City of Maysville water treatment plant. Section VI.1”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: public safety impact fee 15000000 USD“$15,000,000 to the County as a Public Safety Impact Fee. Section VI.3”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: county cost reimbursement 750000 USD“$750,000 to the County for costs and expenses incurred in connection with approving, negotiating, and implementing the Project. Section V.12”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: road costs All costs related to County road improvements or modifications will be paid by the Company (Section VI.2)“All costs related to County road improvements or modifications will be paid by the Company”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: power supply costs Company commits to pay all costs needed to supply the electric power needed for the Project, estimated to be several hundreds of millions of dollars (Section VI.4) USD (estimate)“Company commits to pay all costs needed to supply the electric power needed for the Project, which is estimated to be several hundreds of millions of dollars”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: ratepayer protection No part of the cost to supply power to the Project will be or become included in the rates charged to other residential and commercial customers in Mason County (Section VI.4)“No part of the cost to supply power to the Project will be or become included in the rates charged to other residential and commercial customers in Mason County”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- industrial revenue bond agreement: bond issuance County to issue Industrial Revenue Bonds for the Project, exempting the Project from local property taxes over the life of the Project (Section VI.5)“County to issue Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) for the Project, which will exempt the Project from local property taxes over the life of the Project”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- industrial revenue bond agreement: not county debt IRBs are not the debt of the County; all costs related to issuance of the IRBs will be paid by the Company“IRBs are not the debt of the County”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: county expedite approvals County to grant and expedite all Project Approvals required to commence and complete the development, including roadway projects (Sections V.5, VI.2)“County to grant and expedite all Project Approvals required to commence and complete the development of the Project”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: county state approvals assist County shall work to assist with and facilitate any state or other governmental approvals needed by the Company (Section V.5)“County shall work to assist with and facilitate any state or other governmental approvals needed by the Company”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: qualified dc endorsement County shall endorse the Company's Qualified Data Center program exemption (Section V.9)“County shall endorse the Company's Qualified Data Center program exemption”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: anti annexation County shall oppose and shall not support or facilitate any annexation of the Project (Section V.13)“County shall oppose and shall not support or facilitate any annexation of the Project”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: cemetery relocation County shall use all reasonable efforts to approve the relocation of abandoned cemeteries on the Property; owners' petition to be heard at the November 6 Fiscal Court meeting (S“County shall use all reasonable efforts to approve the relocation of abandoned cemeteries on the Property”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: water sewer assist County shall use all reasonable efforts to induce the City of Maysville to extend water and sewer service to the Project (Section VI.1)“County shall use all reasonable efforts to induce the City of Maysville to extend water and sewer service to the Project”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: hiring plan Company and County will collaborate to develop a hiring plan for local residents, for full-time employment and contracting work (Section VI.9)“Company and County will collaborate to develop a hiring plan to provide opportunities for residents to seek full-time employment and contracting work related to the Project”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: payroll tax minimum 50000 USD per year minimum after Phase I opens“County to receive no less than $50,000 in annual payroll taxes after Phase I opens. Section VI.8”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: occupational tax compliance Company commits to comply with all requirements of the County's Occupational License Tax Ordinance (Section VI.10)“Company commits to comply with all requirements of the County's Occupational License Tax Ordinance”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Minimum bill terms: Rate DCP: all costs of serving the data center allocated to the data center; campus minimum billing demand to be set in the special contract (not yet executed)“The tariff set forth that all costs associated with serving Eligible Data Centers will be allocated to the Eligible Data Centers”Utility regulator · Oct. 2025 · grade A
- Collateral: Prepayment deposit of at least six months of expected maximum monthly billings (Rate DCP as modified)“The Commission finds that EKPC should require at least a six-month period of expected maximum monthly billings instead of two months”Utility regulator · Oct. 2025 · grade A
- electric service agreement (required special contract): status not executed No special contract has been filed with or approved by the KY PSC as of Oct. 18, 2026; Rate DCP requires a PSC-approved special contract, with cond“each data center will be required to enter into a special contract for service and the contract must be approved by the Commission”Utility regulator · Oct. 2025 · grade A
- Time to service (months): Not estimable - no COD disclosed; the Phase 1 construction-start window runs 36 months from Oct 2026“Initial Phase is forecast to begin within 36 months of the execution of the Development Agreement”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Stated capital cost: 10000000000 USD“Capital investment, with potential to grow based on future phases”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- development agreement: termination FINDING: no termination or cancellation clause is described in the county's published summary of the agreement; the executed agreement text has not been published, so termination terms“Mason County proposes to contract with Crisham LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for the development and operation of a multi-year, hyperscale data center project (the Project).”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Holdout landowners (Huddleston/Bare families, 534 acres) refuse a ~$26M buyout inside the assemblage; Meadowland Village trailer park sold as part of the project with $50,000 resident buyouts (WCPO reporting)“an 82-year-old Kentucky farmer and her daughter just said no to $26 million, again”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Operator entity: Crisham LLC, a Meta subsidiary“Meta thanked the fiscal court for its unanimous approval of the development agreement between its subsidiary, Crisham LLC, and the local government”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Land area: 3000 acres (approx)“Mason County government and Meta, the California-based parent company of Facebook and Instagram, have finalized an agreement to locate a data center campus on nearly 3,000 acres”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Phase 1 building sq ft: 600000-800000 sq ft“Initial development would focus on one nearly 400-megawatt data center building between 600,000 and 800,000 square feet”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Construction stage: none (no construction; start expected within three years per the agreement)“Construction is expected to start within three years, the agreement notes”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Stage: Agreements executed“the fiscal court signed off on three agreements: an industrial revenue bond, a development agreement and road improvements”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Industrial revenue bond: term 40 years“Mason County Fiscal Court has agreed to issue 40-year industrial revenue bonds up to the project's anticipated total capital investment of $800 billion.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- PILOT agreement: PILOT schedule per phase: $5,000,000/yr to Mason County + $2,000,000/yr to Mason County schools; full build-out: $30,000,000/yr + $12,000,000/yr USD per year“Meta has agreed to pay, per phase, $5 million and $2 million annually to local government and the local school system, respectively.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Industrial revenue bond: investment commitment (per phase) 10000000000 USD per phase“A fact sheet provided by Meta notes a $10 billion capital investment "with potential to grow based on future phases."”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- industrial revenue bond agreement: property tax exemption term 40 years“the fiscal court signed off on three agreements: an industrial revenue bond, a development agreement and road improvements. All three passed unanimously”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- development agreement: conditions precedent Water and sewer agreements, building permits, electric utility agreements, and roadway plan approvals remain to be secured before the project is a reality“The agreement outlines various additional conditions to be met and approvals to be secured before the project is a reality, including a slew of water and sewer agreements, building permits, electric utility agreements, and roadway plan approvals”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- development agreement: construction start conditions Construction start within three years subject to market conditions, utility readiness, and impacts tied to law changes“Construction is expected to start within three years, the agreement notes, subject to market conditions, utility readiness, and any impacts tied to law changes”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Developer identity confirmed: Meta was publicly identified as the developer on Oct 13, 2026 at the Mason County Fiscal Court meeting, and Meta's own statement confirms Crisham LLC is its subsidiary and the development-ag“Meta thanked the fiscal court for its unanimous approval of the development agreement between its subsidiary, Crisham LLC, and the local government”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Capital investment: 10000000000“Meta is committing to a capital investment of $10 billion, with the potential for additional investment in future phases”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Tenants: Meta Platforms, Inc. (owner-occupied; no third-party tenant)“Meta thanked the fiscal court for its unanimous approval of the development agreement between its subsidiary, Crisham LLC, and the local government”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Tenant status: owner-occupied“the development agreement between its subsidiary, Crisham LLC, and the local government”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- industrial revenue bond agreement: bond ceiling 800000000000 USD“Mason County Fiscal Court has agreed to issue 40-year industrial revenue bonds up to the project's anticipated total capital investment of $800 billion”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Development agreement, IRB and road agreements approved unanimously by the Mason County Fiscal Court on Oct 13, 2026, publicly identifying Meta as the developer for the first time“Meta is committing to a capital investment of $10 billion, with the potential for additional investment in future phases”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Land purchases are scheduled to start in November 2026 and Phase 1 construction is forecast to begin within 36 months of the executed agreement - i.e. no construction and no site hiring yet“Construction of that first phase is forecast to begin within 36 months of an executed agreement, with land purchases scheduled to start in November”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Jurisdiction note: Land use: Mason County Fiscal Court / Joint Planning Commission under KRS 100 (no state preemption). Utility service: KY PSC has exclusive jurisdiction over rates and service; the EKPC special contract“Executive Order 2026-494 establishing requirements for data center projects seeking to locate and operate in Kentucky. The order took effect on August 6, 2026”News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
Permits and government (24)
- Mason County Fiscal Court: Presentation of the Development and Community Revenue Agreement summary with Crisham LLC (developer still unnamed in the summary)“Mason County proposes to contract with Crisham LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for the development and operation of a multi-year, hyperscale data center project”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- zoning map amendment: approved“the Planning Commission held a public hearing during two special meetings on March 25th and 26th, and subsequently approved the rezoning during its April 1st special meeting”Local government · April 2026 · grade A
- Mason County Joint Planning Commission: Vote on the proposed rezoning (map amendment)“the Planning Commission held a public hearing during two special meetings on March 25th and 26th, and subsequently approved the rezoning during its April 1st special meeting”Local government · April 2026 · grade A
- zoning map amendment: application filed“Applicant's Interest in the Property: Potential Purchaser of Property”Local government · March 2026 · grade A
- electric service tariff: order approving tariff as modified“EKPC's Rate DCP tariff is approved, as modified in this Order, for service rendered on and after the date of this Order”Utility regulator · Oct. 2025 · grade A
- KY PSC approves EKPC's Data Center Power tariff (Rate DCP, Case No. 2025-00140) as modified - the rate framework any Mason County service contract will use“EKPC's Rate DCP tariff is approved, as modified in this Order”Utility regulator · Oct. 2025 · grade A
- PSC special contract: none filed“all special contracts for service under Rate DCP shall be reviewed by the Commission”Utility regulator · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Rezoning date: May 22, 2026“Mason County Fiscal Court special meeting - second reading of an ordinance to rezone 28 properties consisting of approximately 2,080 acres north of Germantown Road to I-3 Rural Industrial”Local government · May 2026 · grade B
- zoning map amendment: adopted“Mason County Fiscal Court special meeting - second reading of an ordinance to rezone 28 properties consisting of approximately 2,080 acres north of Germantown Road to I-3 Rural Industrial”Local government · May 2026 · grade B
- Mason County Fiscal Court: Ordinance 26-03 second reading and adoption (rezoning to I-3 Rural Industrial)“Mason County Fiscal Court special meeting - second reading of an ordinance to rezone 28 properties consisting of approximately 2,080 acres north of Germantown Road to I-3 Rural Industrial”Local government · May 2026 · grade B
- Mason County Fiscal Court: Ordinance 26-03 (rezoning) first reading; JPC record adopted as the Fiscal Court's record“The Mason County Fiscal Court had a first reading of an ordinance concerning an application, and the Mason County Joint Planning Commission's subsequent recommendation, to rezone 28 properties”Local government · May 2026 · grade B
- development plan: approved with condition“The Planning Commission discussed and approved the proposed data center development plan with a condition, approved the rezoning findings of fact”Local government · April 2026 · grade B
- Mason County Joint Planning Commission: Data Center Development Plan approval; rezoning findings of fact“The Planning Commission discussed and approved the proposed data center development plan with a condition, approved the rezoning findings of fact”Local government · April 2026 · grade B
- zoning map amendment: public hearings held“The Planning Commission held a two-part public hearing, during which the public had the opportunity to comment on the proposed rezonings of 28 properties in Mason County”Local government · March 2026 · grade B
- zoning text amendment: adopted“The Mason County Fiscal Court had a second reading of an ordinance adopting an amended version of the JPC's recommendation, formally adopting it to regulate data centers in unincorporated Mason County”Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade B
- Mason County Fiscal Court: Adoption of data center regulations for unincorporated Mason County (Ordinance 26-01), second reading“formally adopting it to regulate data centers in unincorporated Mason County”Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade B
- Mason County Joint Planning Commission: Data center zoning text amendment - third draft; recommendation to the Fiscal Court with findings of fact“The Planning Commission discussed the third draft of the data center zoning text amendment proposal and made a recommendation to the Mason County Fiscal Court”Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade B
- Mason County Joint Planning Commission: Data center zoning text amendment - two-part public hearing (Dec 9-10), Fields Auditorium, MCTC“The Planning Commission held a two-part public hearing, during which the public had the opportunity to comment on the data center zoning text amendment proposal draft”Local government · Dec. 2025 · grade B
- Rezoned parcel acres: 2080 acres“In May of this year, a 2,080-acre parcel in the area was rezoned for data center use”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Meta will seek state Qualified Data Center Incentive Program (sales tax) exemptions with county support; Kentucky has not yet granted the incentive to any data center developer, and legislative leaders have signaled the“Meta plans on seeking state-level tax exemptions through the Qualified Data Center Incentive Program. Mason County government has pledged its support in that effort”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- IRB/abatement ordinance, Fiscal Court approved the Crisham LLC (Meta) developme: approved“It was also reported during the meeting that approximately $800 billion in Industrial Revenue Bonds are associated with the project, with an estimated $10 billion per phase.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Mason County Fiscal Court: Meta revealed as developer; approval of the industrial revenue bond agreement, the development agreement, and road improvements“At the meeting, the fiscal court signed off on three agreements: an industrial revenue bond, a development agreement and road improvements. All three passed unanimously”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Gov. Beshear Executive Order 2026-494 takes effect: data center developers must file an energy plan with the Energy and Environment Cabinet, the PSC may not shift data-center costs to other ratepayers, and the Cabinet is“Governor Andy Beshear issued Executive Order 2026-494 establishing requirements for data center projects seeking to locate and operate in Kentucky”News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
- Mason County Joint Planning Commission: Zoning map amendment public hearing (two-part, Mar 25-26) - 28 properties, ~2,080 acres“And here we have somebody who wants to build the biggest thing that's ever been built in Mason County, and we don't know who they are”News report · March 2026 · grade C
Legal (7)
- Lawsuits: Two lawsuits by We Are Mason County KY Inc. challenging the approval process: suit 1 filed March 27, 2026, dismissed June 23, 2026 (motion to vacate denied Aug. 17, 2026); suit 2 filed and pending per the development agr“The development agreement also notes pending lawsuits over the project filed by citizens group We Are Mason County KY”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- A second, similar We Are Mason County lawsuit is pending; the development agreement itself notes the pending lawsuits“The development agreement also notes pending lawsuits over the project filed by citizens group We Are Mason County KY”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Developer revealed date: Oct. 13, 2026“During the regularly scheduled Mason County Fiscal Court meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13, Judge Executive Owen McNeill announced that Meta is the developer”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Motion to alter, vacate or amend the dismissal (filed July 6, 2026) is denied“August 17, 2026 - The motion is denied”News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
- First We Are Mason County lawsuit dismissed by the judge“June 23, 2026 - A judge dismisses the first lawsuit”News report · June 2026 · grade C
- We Are Mason County KY Inc. files its first lawsuit challenging the county's approval process“March 27, 2026 - We Are Mason County KY Inc. files its first lawsuit challenging the process”News report · March 2026 · grade C
- Announced: Nov. 2025“It was previously reported in November 2025 that an anonymous developer was surveying around 5,000 acres of land near the same area”News report · Nov. 2025 · grade C
Site and other (16)
- Phases: 5 phases; up to 6 data center buildings“Subsequent phases may include up to a total of 6 data center buildings”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Buildings: 6 buildings“Subsequent phases may include up to a total of 6 data center buildings”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Land control date: Land purchase closings scheduled to begin November 2026 (not yet closed as of Oct. 18, 2026)“Company commits to purchase land for the Project with closings on those properties starting in November”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Construction stage: none (pre-construction; land purchase closings start November 2026)“Company commits to purchase land for the Project with closings on those properties starting in November”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Workforce estimate: 2,000 construction workers (up to 4,000 at peak); >= 100 full-time jobs after Phase I; 400+ at full build-out“Company estimates at least 100 full time jobs following construction and over 400 jobs at full buildout”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Address: West of Maysville, north of Germantown Road at Germantown Road, Valley Pike and Big Pond Pike, Mason County, KY“An area consisting of 28 properties and approximately 2,080 acres located north of Germantown Road at the intersections of Germantown Road, and Valley Pike and Big Pond Pike”Local government · April 2026 · grade A
- Acres: 2080 acres“28 properties and approximately 2,080 acres located north of Germantown Road”Local government · April 2026 · grade A
- Conditions of approval: Development Plan approved by the JPC with a condition on April 22, 2026; staff had recommended a Germantown Road landscape-buffer condition and a future fire emergency response plan“Staff recommends a condition that a buffer be required at this location, or that the natural topography of the landscape be formally concluded to satisfy the intent of the landscape buffer”Local government · April 2026 · grade A
- Cooling: closed-loop (zero operational water for cooling)“The data center is expected to have a water-efficient closed-loop cooling design that uses zero operational water for cooling”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Water use stated: Zero operational water for cooling once filled; annual operational use limited to domestic needs and periodic cleaning“Annual operational water use is limited to domestic needs (kitchens, restrooms) and periodic equipment cleaning”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Name: Meta Mason County“Meta plans to bring a hyperscale data center project to northeastern Kentucky”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Developer: Meta Platforms, Inc., via subsidiary Crisham LLC“Meta has been officially identified as the company behind the proposed hyperscale data center project in Mason County”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Opposition: We Are Mason County KY Inc. - organized opposition; Facebook group ~4,300 members; petition 1,429 signatures as of Oct 2026; moratorium proposed“a petition against the project having 1,429 signatures at the time of writing”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Petition against the project reaches 1,429 signatures; We Are Mason County Facebook group ~4,300 members; a moratorium on data centers proposed to county officials“a petition against the project having 1,429 signatures at the time of writing”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Site acres: 2900 acres“describes a hyperscale data center project that could ultimately include up to six data center buildings on approximately 2,900 acres”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Anonymous developer reported surveying ~5,000 acres near Big Pond and Tuckahoe roads; roughly 20-30 landowners offered above-market prices“It was previously reported in November 2025 that an anonymous developer was surveying around 5,000 acres of land near the same area”News report · Nov. 2025 · grade C
Imagery and records: Satellite imagery: Maxar via Esri World Imagery Wayback.