Louisville residents demand Greenberg to 'pick a side' on data centers
Louisville residents and activists are actively opposing a planned hyperscale data center development, urging Mayor Craig Greenberg to take a stand against it. While the project was approved by the Planning Commission, the Mayor's office is now proposing new regulations that would ban future hyperscale data centers and address community concerns. Multiple public and community meetings are scheduled to discuss the proposed regulations and ongoing opposition.
Louisville residents, led by mayoral candidate and Metro Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright and the organization No Data Center 502, held a press conference outside Metro Hall on July 17 to protest a planned hyperscale data center development in southwest Louisville. The protest followed an interruption of Mayor Craig Greenberg's press conference on July 14, where activists demanded he "pick a side" on the issue. Residents from South and West Louisville expressed concerns, with Parrish-Wright stating her focus is on "improving and saving human lives" over "corporate dollars."
The data center, Jefferson County's first hyperscale facility, is slated for 6001 Camp Ground Road, with the initial phase expected in late 2026. The Louisville Metro Planning Commission had approved a revised plan on March 5, allowing Poe Companies and PowerHouse Data Centers to proceed. Protest organizers, including No Data Center 502 member Sauda Brown, criticized Mayor Greenberg for allegedly ignoring requests to meet and prioritizing corporate interests.
In response, a spokesperson for Mayor Greenberg stated that the city is proposing new regulations that would ban new hyperscale data centers, protect utility customers, strengthen neighborhood and environmental safeguards, increase transparency, and ensure prevailing wages. These draft regulations, released by the Louisville Metro Office of Planning in June, include limits on hyperscale facilities, noise standards, and landscape buffering requirements. The Mayor's office indicated that the proposed regulations reflect his stance, noting the current project was permitted under existing heavy industrial zoning, and the new rules aim to catch up with rapid technological development. Four additional public meetings are scheduled in late July and August to discuss these proposals, alongside a community meeting organized by No Data Center 502.