Louisville residents back KRC model data center ordinance
Louisville and Lexington are evaluating proposed land use code changes for hyperscale data centers. The Kentucky Resources Council (KRC) has submitted a model ordinance that focuses on regulating facilities based on their impacts, such as noise and water use, rather than size. Residents have voiced support for the KRC model, suggesting the city's current draft amendments do not go far enough.
Louisville and Lexington are actively considering new land use code amendments to regulate hyperscale data centers within their jurisdictions. The Kentucky Resources Council (KRC), a public-interest environmental law and advocacy group, has submitted a comprehensive model ordinance for consideration during the public comment periods in both cities.
Executive Director Ashley Wilmes stated that KRC's proposal offers communities greater flexibility in tailoring requirements for data center projects by focusing on their specific environmental and community impacts rather than just their size. The model ordinance suggests creating a new zoning category and requiring conditional use permits for data centers, alongside detailed design and construction permits.
During Louisville Metro's public comment meetings on its own draft code amendments, numerous residents expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the city's proposals were insufficient. Many commenters urged Louisville to adopt the KRC's model as the foundation for new regulations, citing its specificity on issues like air and noise pollution, potential utility cost burdens, and water usage.
Key provisions of the KRC model include requiring closed-loop cooling systems to conserve water, mandating acoustical studies by qualified experts to set noise limits, and establishing setback requirements from residential areas. Wilmes emphasized that KRC is neutral on data center development, aiming only to equip local governments with robust tools to make informed decisions while acknowledging the potential economic benefits data centers can bring.