Urban County Council extends data center moratorium
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted to extend the city-county’s data center moratorium until Oct. 31, 2027. The moratorium prevents officials from accepting or reviewing data center plans, approving related zoning changes, or issuing permits, amid resident concerns about energy use, cooling systems and pollution.
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council extended its data center moratorium through Oct. 31, 2027, replacing an expiration date at the end of the month. The measure passed after public comments from residents opposed to data center development and warnings about large power demands, industrial cooling towers and diesel generators.
Council members also considered proposals related to data center regulations and a special zoning area. The proposal to advance the regulatory language to a second reading failed 6-5, while the zoning-area resolution did not receive a second. Council members Emma Curtis and Liz Sheehan differed over whether accelerating the moratorium vote reduced opportunities for public input; the remaining items are scheduled for a second reading on Oct. 22.