Fact check: What Lexington mayor candidates have to say about data centers
Mayoral candidates in Lexington, Kentucky, are debating a proposed ban on hyperscale data centers. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council has enacted a moratorium on data centers and is considering new zoning regulations that would severely restrict their development. A DartPoints project is currently paused due to these developments.
The ongoing debate over data center development in Lexington, Kentucky, is a central issue in the mayoral election, with both incumbent Mayor Linda Gorton and challenger Raquel Carter advocating for a ban on hyperscale data centers. This follows a June announcement where DartPoints acquired a former Lexmark facility with plans for a large-scale data center.
In response to public backlash and DartPoints' plans, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council promptly implemented a moratorium on all data center development until October 31. Concurrently, the Council is exploring new zoning regulations that would prohibit data centers exceeding 40,000 square feet and impose stringent requirements on smaller facilities, addressing concerns like water, electricity, noise, and decommissioning.
Mayor Gorton has firmly stated her opposition to hyperscale data centers in Fayette County, vowing not to provide city funding or tax incentives for projects like DartPoints' and emphasizing the need for tight controls on any smaller centers. Raquel Carter, while now aligning with Gorton's call for a ban, had previously expressed a more nuanced view in an April survey, focusing on leveraging private investments and integrating renewable energies. Carter now cites concerns over affordability, power bills, and environmental damage as reasons for her stance against data centers.