Greenberg absent as Louisville mayoral candidates talk climate change

Mayoral candidates for Louisville, Kentucky's largest city, convened on March 25 for a forum on climate and environmental issues, covering topics from solar and nuclear power to public transit and data centers. The event, hosted by the Renewable Energy Alliance of Louisville, saw participation from candidates Matthew Bailey, Lisa Holliday Harris, Jody Hurt, and Shameka Parrish-Wright. A notable absence was incumbent Mayor Craig Greenberg, who is seeking re-election. His campaign stated he was attending a previously scheduled event, having participated in the forum in 2022. During the discussion, several candidates voiced strong opposition to a hyperscale data center project currently under development near Lake Dreamland. Louisville has established ambitious climate goals through a Metro Council-approved resolution, targeting 100% clean electricity in city operations by 2030, 100% clean energy in city operations by 2035, and 100% clean energy community-wide by 2040. The incoming mayor, whose term ends in 2030, will be crucial in accelerating the city's progress toward these benchmarks, especially given current struggles to transition away from fossil fuels, largely attributed to LG&E's coal- and gas-dominated generating fleet.