Bowling Green data center moratorium fails again, regulations given final approval
Bowling Green leaders voted down a proposed six-month moratorium on data centers for the second time. Concurrently, new zoning ordinance regulations for future data center developments received final approval. The decisions were made during a lengthy City Commission meeting attended by protestors.
The Bowling Green City Commission, led by Mayor Todd Alcott, once again rejected a proposed six-month moratorium on data center construction during a four-and-a-half-hour meeting on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. This decision came after a previous vote on the same moratorium had failed.
In a related action, the Board of Commissioners gave final approval to new zoning ordinance regulations specifically designed for future data center developments. The meeting, held at City Hall, saw significant public interest, with protestors gathering outside and inside, holding signs and speaking during the proceedings. Megan Wingfield, Cathy Severns, Ryan Dearborn, and Flora Templeton Stuart were among those who spoke, while Brenton Hippler of SOKY Indivisible prepared signs for protestors. City Commissioner Carlos Bailey and City-County Planning Commission Executive Director Ben Peterson discussed the proposed regulations during the meeting. Meredith Wilson, Interim President and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, also answered questions regarding the new regulations.