Another Central KY city readies ban on hyperscale data center development
The Georgetown City Council unanimously voted to have city planners and legal counsel draft regulations banning hyperscale data centers within the city. Officials cited concerns about water, land, infrastructure, sound and vibrations, while rejecting a broader citywide moratorium because it could affect businesses with smaller onsite data centers.
The Georgetown City Council in Kentucky voted unanimously to direct the city’s planning and zoning commission and legal counsel to draft regulations targeting a ban on hyperscale data centers. Council member Karen Tingle Sames said Georgetown lacks the water, land and infrastructure needed for large-scale facilities and needs more information about their potential noise and vibration impacts.
Council member Kim Menke proposed a citywide moratorium instead, warning that an outright ban could prevent businesses such as insurance companies from operating smaller data centers for internal data processing. The council rejected that proposal, while other members said the regulations could distinguish hyperscale facilities from smaller installations. No data center proposals are publicly linked to Georgetown or Scott County, although Scott County has enacted a moratorium through March while officials develop regulations.