In this blog, 3L senior staffer Shelby Davidson analyzes the economic boom and rise of generative AI companies which have led states to scramble for the opportunity to capitalize on the growth, creating tax incentives to encourage the construction of new data centers. Davidson highlights the environmental threats posed by data centers, including excessive electricity and water usage, which has led to different approaches to regulation. Davidson argues Kentucky should follow Virginia’s system, with a strict regulatory framework, rather than West Virginia, which has given data centers almost entirely free rein, to the detriment of its citizens.
In this blog, 3L senior staffer Reed Burrow examines how Taiwan’s dominance in chip manufacturing has placed the island at the center of a potentially major geopolitical conflict. Burrow argues that Taiwan’s “silicon shield” remains a powerful deterrent to Chinese invasion, but warns that its strength ultimately depends on the water and energy resources needed to sustain chip production.
Kentucky's 67,700 farms represent an untapped opportunity in the voluntary carbon credit market, but transaction costs have kept small farmers on the sidelines of a rapidly developing global credit supply. In this blog, 2L staffer Spencer Harris argues that the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board already holds the mandate and the money through the state's $2.8 billion share of the Tobacco Master Settlement. This money can be used to subsidize the verification costs that stand between tobacco-legacy farmers and a new, recurring income stream.
In this blog, 3L senior staffer Caidan Drenk examines the growing tension between Kentucky’s statutory recognition of agritourism and the continued use of local zoning authority to regulate farm-based events such as weddings and festivals. He argues that although Kentucky law expressly recognizes these activities as agritourism, local land-use regulations can still create significant uncertainty for farmers seeking to diversify their operations. Drenk contends that the Kentucky General Assembly should clarify the relationship between agritourism statutes and local zoning authority to better protect working farms and promote agricultural sustainability.
In this blog, 2L staffer Braden Porter argues that courts reviewing pesticide registrations under the EPA should consider staying judgments, rather than vacating during active growing seasons. Porter explains that while vacatur can correct agency actions, the timing of the decisions can harm farmers who rely on federal registrations to plan for the planting and growing seasons. He argues that courts should exercise their discretion to delay the effects of vacatur and preserve their authority, while preventing disruption to seasonal industries such as agriculture.
The California Governor has recently issued an executive order mandating all passenger cars sold to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. In Howard Ball’s post, he breaks down the rationale but brings an air of skepticism to the mandate. Keep reading to learn about the potential drawbacks of this futuristic law.
