Carrollton ethics commission launches investigation into data center project
Carrollton's Ethics Commission has launched a formal investigation into a proposed hyperscale data center project after receiving multiple complaints about the deal. The project involves Louisville Poe Companies and Powerhouse Data Centers, which are attempting to purchase 340 acres of city-owned land near Carrollton for the development.
The Carroll County Ethics Commission has voted to initiate a formal investigation into a proposed hyperscale data center project following numerous complaints regarding the deal and public records.
The project involves Louisville Poe Companies and Powerhouse Data Centers, which are seeking to construct a large-scale data center on 340 acres of land owned by the city of Carrollton. The site is located between I-71 and the Kentucky River, just outside Carrollton.
Concerns arose because the city signed an option agreement in late August, granting Poe Companies the exclusive right to purchase the land by July 2025. This deal was signed a full year before the city's mayor publicly acknowledged its existence. Zach Spencer, a member of the ethics commission, emphasized the need for full transparency in the process, stating, "I want everything. I want it out in the open."
The ethics commission will conduct a formal investigation into alleged misconduct and require the disclosure of withheld records. WHAS11 has attempted to contact Carrollton City Attorney Jake Thompson for a response, but he had not commented as of news time. Representatives for the Poe Companies in Louisville declined to comment on the ethics commission's decision.