Kentucky governor's office says recent data center order will apply to projects underway
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear's executive order on data centers will apply to all related projects, including those already underway. Developers must now submit energy plans to the state's Energy and Environment cabinet, detailing grid connection and proving sufficient electricity availability. The order also mandates project leaders to build meaningful relationships with local communities.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear's recent executive order concerning data centers will encompass all ongoing and future projects, not just new developments, according to a spokesperson from his office. The order mandates that all "related projects, past, present, and future," must provide a comprehensive energy plan to Team Kentucky's Energy and Environment cabinet. This plan must detail how data centers will connect to the power grid and ensure adequate electricity supply.
The order also requires a commitment from project leaders to cultivate meaningful relationships with local communities. However, the executive order does not compel developers to disclose the end-users or tenants of their data centers, a detail often lacking for "hyperscale data centers" currently under construction in West Louisville and those planned for Carrollton. The level of detail required for these energy plans remains unclear, prompting a plan to submit an open records request to the cabinet to assess compliance rates.