Andy Barr Wants Kentucky's Coal To Power Data Centers — And The Companies Behind Them Fund His Campaign
A $100 billion project near Paducah, a Harlan County press conference and a set of PAC checks.
By Barr Record editorial team · Published August 18, 2026 · Last reviewed August 18, 2026 · 5 min read
Who is in this story
Satya Nadella, chief executive of Microsoft, whose corporate PAC gave $5,000 in April 2025.Photo: Brian Smale / Microsoft · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Rep. Andy Barr, official congressional portrait.Photo: United States Congress · Public domain
What to know
- Barr announced a coal-and-data-center plan at a Harlan County press conference in January 2026.
- He advocated for a $100 billion data center and gas-fired power plant near Paducah.
- Microsoft, AT&T and Uniti PACs have contributed to his Senate campaign.
In January 2026, Barr unveiled a plan to jumpstart Kentucky's coal industry by fostering data-center infrastructure. He told reporters the state is ripe with the resources data centers need, and that coal-fired energy is the backbone of that strategy.
In July 2026, a $100 billion data center and gas-fired power plant was announced for development around the Paducah Department of Energy site. Barr, who advocated to bring the project to western Kentucky, called it a place that once helped America win the Cold War and will now help America win the technology race.
Companies with a direct commercial interest in that buildout have contributed to his campaign. Uniti Group, whose PAC gave $1,000, announced a fiber expansion explicitly aimed at linking markets to fast-growing data-center hubs. AT&T, whose PAC has also contributed, announced a commitment of more than $250 billion over five years to expand connectivity infrastructure.
Contributions are not evidence of a specific official act. What the record establishes is a documented alignment between Barr's platform and the business plans of donors, which readers can weigh for themselves.
Why this matters
Large data centers change electricity demand, land use and water use. Who pays for the power matters to every ratepayer in the state.
The hits, with citations
Each line below is a single documented claim, followed by the quoted source language and the citation.
Barr said Kentucky's resources and coal-fired energy are the backbone of a data-center strategy.
“The Bluegrass State is ripe with resources data centers need to outpace foreign competitors, and coal-fired energy is the backbone of that strategy.”
[Lexington Herald-Leader, January 7, 2026]
News reportVerifiedBarr advocated to bring a $100 billion data center project to western Kentucky.
“A place that once helped America win the Cold War will now help America win the technology race.”
[WKMS / Louisville Public Media, July 30, 2026]
News reportVerifiedUniti Group is investing in fiber infrastructure specifically to connect data centers and support hyperscale data-center growth.
[Uniti Group, January 13, 2026][Quiver Quantitative, May 29, 2026]
Campaign statementVerifiedAT&T announced a commitment of more than $250 billion over five years to expand U.S. connectivity infrastructure.
[AT&T, March 10, 2026][Notus, March 24, 2026]
Campaign statementVerified
Barr’s position and right of reply
Rep. Barr's office is invited to address what safeguards, if any, he supports for ratepayers near new data centers.
Responses are published in full on the corrections and responses page.
Sources
- News reportVerified
Barr unveils plan to revive coal by fostering data-center infrastructure
“The Bluegrass State is ripe with resources data centers need to outpace foreign competitors, and coal-fired energy is the backbone of that strategy, Barr told reporters at a press conference in Harlan County Monday morning. “We have to revive coal for national security … we're in a race for the technologies of the future.””
- News reportVerified
$100B data center, gas-fired power plant to be developed around Paducah DOE site
“Republican Congressman Andy Barr, who advocated to bring the project to western Kentucky, touted the investment as a big win. “A place that once helped America win the Cold War will now help America win the technology race.””
- Campaign statementVerified
Uniti Wholesale adds 1,100 miles to its South-Central U.S. fiber network
“The deployment adds 1,100 route miles of ultra high-capacity fiber and upgrades space and power at over 20 colocation sites to link Tier-1 markets with fast-growing data-center hubs, creating a robust backbone for the next wave of hyperscale data center growth.”
- FilingVerified
Andy Barr donor records
“UNITI GROUP INC. PAC (UNITI PAC) contributed $1,000 to ANDY BARR FOR SENATE, INC. on May 29, 2026.”
- Campaign statementVerified
AT&T announces $250 billion commitment
“AT&T is committing more than $250 billion over five years to build the best and largest network, with the capabilities and resilience required for the next era of innovation and economic growth.”
- FilingVerified
AT&T Inc. Federal Political Action Committee disbursements
“AT&T Inc. Federal Political Action Committee contributed $1,000 to Andy Barr For Senate, Inc. on May 5, 2025.”