West Louisville data center approved despite opposition

The Louisville Planning Commission has approved revised development plans for a 1.6-million-square-foot data center in west Louisville, despite opposition from local residents. The new plans include seven buildings, including warehouses, an office, and a guardhouse. Commissioner William Fischer stated the Commission could only base its decision on whether the project met the city's Land Development Code standards, not broader issues raised by residents. Just one commissioner voted against the project. Louisville's current regulations on data centers are vague and were written before modern hyperscale data centers existed. Residents expressed concerns about the data center's potential impact on the environment, power grid, and utility costs. Developer Steve Poe declined to comment as he left the meeting, surrounded by protesters.