Woodford County passes data center construction ban

Woodford County, Kentucky, has become the first county in the state to enact a permanent ban on data center construction. The Woodford County Fiscal Court unanimously approved an ordinance last week that prohibits the construction of landfills, data centers, and large battery storage systems within the county, citing the operations' power-intensive nature.

Woodford County Judge-Executive James Kay emphasized that the ban reflects the community's commitment to preserving its tight-knit character, finite land, historic farms, and agricultural economy, which he described as the backbone of the county. He noted that while developers had not proposed specific data centers, they are actively scouting locations, and the county aimed to proactively protect its valuable Thoroughbred horse farms and prevent urban sprawl. The decision was driven by universal opposition from local residents.

While other Kentucky cities and counties have implemented temporary moratoriums on data center construction, Woodford County opted for a permanent ban. Versailles, the county seat, had previously passed a temporary moratorium in July. The Data Center Coalition, an industry advocacy group, expressed concerns about the ban, with Executive Vice President Dan Diorio stating that such measures are anti-business and hinder economic development. Diorio urged communities to collaborate with the industry to establish reasonable regulatory frameworks.

Kay indicated that the permanent ban helps avoid divisive debates seen in other communities, such as a proposed hyperscale data center in Mercer County. He acknowledged that technological advancements might eventually lead to more sustainable and less intrusive data center operations, which could prompt the community to reconsider its rules in the future.