Ascension Parish looks to regulate data centers
Ascension Parish is proactively introducing an ordinance to regulate future data center developments. The proposed regulations aim to address concerns about groundwater usage for cooling and noise pollution in residential areas. This initiative seeks to establish guard rails before potential data center projects arrive in the parish.
Ascension Parish in Louisiana is moving to implement its own regulations for data centers, aiming to preempt potential issues before projects are announced in the area. This proactive approach follows the state's goal of attracting between 7 to 15 more data centers after Meta's announcement in Richland Parish.
Parish officials are particularly focused on mitigating impacts on groundwater resources and reducing noise pollution in residential zones. Ascension Parish Councilman Blaine Petty emphasized his strong opposition to using groundwater for cooling, advocating instead for closed-loop systems or the purification of river water. Petty also suggested establishing buffer zones between data centers and homes to address industrial noise concerns.
The Parish Council was scheduled to introduce an ordinance to establish these "guard rails" during its evening meeting. The proposed regulations are intended to ensure that any future data center developments in Ascension Parish do not negatively affect the local environment or residents.