Ascension Parish considers ordinance to regulate data centers
Ascension Parish is working to adopt a new ordinance to regulate data centers, with a draft scheduled for the Zoning Commission's September agenda. The Parish Council resolved to enact this regulatory scheme, and one councilman suggested a moratorium on data center development. Concerns regarding energy and water consumption are central to the proposed regulations.
Ascension Parish in Louisiana is actively developing an ordinance to regulate data centers, referred to as 'high impact development facilities.' This initiative is driven by the Parish Council's resolution to establish a regulatory framework, with a 12-page draft ordinance slated for review by the Zoning Commission in September.
Councilman Blaine Petite highlighted the need for regulation, and a colleague proposed an indefinite moratorium on data center construction. The discussion underscores the nationwide debate surrounding data centers, acknowledging their role in the AI revolution while also raising significant concerns about their substantial energy and water consumption, which the proposed regulations aim to address.