Rubbertown data center exempt from draft regulations
The Louisville Planning Commission has released draft regulations for data centers in Jefferson County, addressing concerns about size, setbacks, and resource usage. However, an existing 1.5 million square foot hyperscale data center project in Rubbertown is exempt from these new rules due to its early application submission. This exempt project, three times the proposed size limit, is expected to consume as much electricity as 300,000 homes.
The Louisville Planning Commission has released new draft regulations for data center projects in Jefferson County. These proposed changes to the land development code include provisions such as a requirement for developers to disclose potential tenants, a size limit of 500,000 square feet for new data centers, and a 200-foot setback from homes, schools, or daycares for facilities between 250,000 and 500,000 square feet.
Additionally, the draft regulations encourage the use of closed-loop water systems to reduce consumption and limit generator testing to no more than once per week. However, a specific 1.5 million square foot hyperscale data center currently under construction in Rubbertown will be exempt from these new rules, even if approved by the Metro Council. This exemption is due to the project having submitted its initial application back in the summer of 2025 (likely a typo in the transcript, intended as 2023 or 2024), predating the draft regulations. The exempt facility is three times the proposed allowable size, its tenant remains unknown, and it is projected to consume electricity equivalent to 300,000 homes when at full capacity.