Daviess County proposes one-year halt on data center applications

Daviess County, Kentucky, is considering a one-year moratorium on data center applications following public opposition and concerns. At a recent Daviess County Fiscal Court meeting, residents voiced worries about the environmental impact, high water and energy usage, and noise from potential data centers. Fiscal Court Judge Executive Charlie Castlen stated that while no data center developers have contacted the county yet, they anticipate future interest. The proposed moratorium aims to provide the county with time to research and evaluate potential impacts, and to allow the Owensboro Metropolitan Zoning Commission to develop specific zoning districts and performance standards for data centers. Currently, the county's comprehensive plan does not address data centers. An Owensboro resident, Andrew G., argued that the potential costs of data centers, including rising electricity prices and increased water usage, would outweigh any economic benefits for the community. The Fiscal Court plans a transparent, year-long process, with the second reading and a vote on the moratorium scheduled for May 28th.