Louisville Mayor's office proposes stronger data center regulations
Metro Louisville is proposing stricter regulations for data centers in Jefferson County. The draft rules would limit where data centers can be built, prevent utility rate increases, close expansion loopholes, and restrict generator testing times. Public meetings are scheduled to gather feedback on these proposed regulations.
Metro Louisville's Mayor's office has proposed stricter regulations for data centers to be built in Jefferson County, Kentucky. These draft regulations, announced an hour before the news broadcast, aim to control the growth and impact of data center development in the area.
The proposed rules include several key provisions. They would further limit the locations where data centers can be built, requiring separation from "sensitive areas" such as nursing homes, hospitals, existing homes, childcare centers, and schools. Additionally, the regulations propose that data centers operate without causing an increase in utility rates for residents. To prevent uncontrolled expansion, a regulation has been added to close a loophole that would allow data centers to increase in size after construction. The draft also specifies that generators at these facilities can only be tested once per week, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Public meetings have been scheduled to allow community members to voice their opinions on these proposed regulations. The first meeting is set for Monday, July 27, at 5:00 p.m. at JCTC Southwest, followed by another on August 5th at UFL's Shelby campus, an online meeting on August 6th, and a final meeting on August 10th at the African American Heritage Center in West Louisville.