Bowling Green council rejects data center pause, proposes new rules
The Bowling Green City Council rejected a proposed six-month moratorium on data center applications in a 3-2 vote. Following this, the council introduced a new ordinance that proposes regulations for data centers within city limits, including setback requirements and utility planning mandates. This new ordinance is scheduled for a second reading to become law.
In Bowling Green, Kentucky, the City Council voted 3-2 to reject a proposed six-month pause on data center applications, zoning amendments, and permits. Mayor Todd Alcott, who voted against the moratorium, expressed concerns that such a pause could cause the city to miss out on potential economic opportunities.
Conversely, City Commissioner Dana Beasley-Brown, a co-sponsor of the proposed pause, argued that it would allow for greater public input and provide the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) more time to develop safeguards for citizens' utility rates, addressing concerns about high energy use. Following the rejection of the pause, the council introduced a new ordinance aimed at regulating data centers within the city.
The proposed ordinance mandates that data centers submit utility and infrastructure plans to the local government and establishes a minimum distance of 1,500 feet from residential areas, schools, churches, and hospitals. Mayor Alcott stated that these regulations are a crucial framework to maintain discernment over which companies enter the community. Commissioner Beasley-Brown supported the new rules, emphasizing their importance as a minimum protection. The ordinance requires a second reading, scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, before it can be enacted.