Lexington City Council Extends Data Center Construction Moratorium Through October 2027
The Lexington City Council has voted to extend a temporary ban, or moratorium, on data center construction within the city until October 2027. This decision comes as local governments across Kentucky grapple with how to regulate hyperscale data centers. Concurrently, Mercer County Fiscal Court unanimously rejected proposed regulations that would have permitted hyperscale data centers near a coal-fired power plant, citing proximity to the historic Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. In Carroll County, ethics complaints have been filed against city council members regarding potential conflicts of interest in land deals for proposed data centers. These local actions are taking place amidst calls from over 60 Kentuckians for state lawmakers to implement more comprehensive regulations for large data centers, rather than leaving the burden solely on local authorities. State Representatives Adam Moore (D-Lexington) and Josh Bray (R-Mount Vernon) are reportedly preparing legislation on data center regulations for the...
