Breaking down Bowling Green’s proposed data center restrictions
Warren County leaders in Bowling Green, Kentucky, are proposing new, strict data center regulations, aiming for some of the toughest rules in the country. These proposed zoning ordinance amendments address proximity to residential properties, mandatory decommissioning, and utility restrictions covering water usage and electricity. The City-County Planning Commission has spent a year researching these rules to protect the community from unwanted development.
Last week, the Warren County Fiscal Court met to discuss and vote on new regulations concerning data centers, aiming to establish some of the most stringent rules nationwide. According to Executive Director Ben Peterson of the City-County Planning Commission, the commission cannot outright prohibit data centers from coming to Bowling Green, but it can impose strict restrictions. The commission has dedicated over a year to researching communities with existing data centers to develop rules that safeguard Bowling Green.
Without these proposed amendments, a data center could currently obtain a permit and begin operating under existing zoning as any other industrial use facility or warehouse. The proposed ordinance amendments, which the council voted on during their March 19th fiscal court meeting, include requirements regarding the proximity of data centers to residential properties and mandatory decommissioning from developers. Additionally, the new regulations incorporate significant utility restrictions, addressing concerns about water usage and electricity consumption. Data center developers would be required to provide upfront details on their planned utility usage to protect the community from potential negative impacts seen in other areas.