Louisville data center moratorium passed
The Louisville Metro Council has approved a six-month moratorium on new data center developments. The council also closed a potential loophole by preventing existing buildings from being re-zoned for data center use. This pause will allow the council to study the issue and establish new zoning guidelines.
The Louisville Metro Council voted to enact a six-month moratorium on new data centers within the city, with 24 council members approving the measure, one voting no, and one abstaining. The council's decision temporarily halts any new data center proposals from moving forward.
In addition to the moratorium, council members also passed an amendment to close a potential loophole. This amendment prevents existing buildings from being re-zoned for use as data centers. An attempt to extend the moratorium to a full year failed during the vote.
Councilmember Jennifer Chappell, the moratorium's sponsor, emphasized that this is just the beginning of the effort, stating, "The fight doesn't stop with the moratorium. The fight doesn't stop with regulations. The fight will continue with every single proposed data center." She added that the moratorium provides time for the council to "understand the rules before we play the game."
During the six-month pause, the council plans to study the issue of data center development and draft new zoning guidelines before any new data center proposals can be considered.