Oldham OKs strict data center regulations
The Oldham County Fiscal Court approved an ordinance regulating data centers in an 8-1 vote. The rules cap facilities at 10 megawatts and 110,000 square feet and impose large residential and school setbacks, effectively preventing hyperscale data centers from being developed in the county for now.
The Oldham County Fiscal Court approved data center regulations Oct. 6 by an 8-1 vote, with Magistrate Michael Logsdon dissenting. The ordinance limits data centers to 10 megawatts of power capacity and 110,000 square feet, while requiring setbacks of 1,000 feet from residences and 1,500 feet from adjoining schools. Judge Executive David Voegele said the restrictions effectively leave no suitable location for a hyperscale facility in the county.
Residents raised concerns about the approval process and potential loopholes in the definitions of medium and hyperscale data centers. County Attorney D. Berry Baxter said the ordinance was legally supported, while Planning and Development Director Ryan Fischer warned that officials will need to continually monitor and update the rules as data center technology and federal involvement evolve.