data centers

Data center development is a fast growing industry, with projects popping up in seemingly every corner of the country. But that’s not been the case in West Virginia so far. Now, state officials are rolling out the red carpet for the expensive and increasingly expansive projects.

A $100 billion data center campus will be built on federally-owned land in far western Kentucky.

U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey said he opposes all hyperscale data center construction in the state, including one planned in west Louisville, at a public forum organized by Democratic state lawmakers in Louisville.

Murray’s Planning Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend a proposed ordinance adding new zoning regulations for future data centers. The ordinance will now go to the city council for approval.

Pushback to a planned data center near Nashville’s zoo has been gaining political support in recent days, including from Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who is also running for governor.

Murray’s City Council on Thursday passed a moratorium on data center project permits applications – for just one week.

By and large, community members who spoke at a public meeting on Tuesday regarding Murray’s proposed data center zoning regulations said the western Kentucky city needs to do more to dissuade companies from building those facilities in the area.

Recent polling shows data centers are increasingly unpopular. That opposition was a factor in several local primary races in Kentucky where data center projects have popped up.

As communities around Kentucky protest planned data centers, a new state energy group says the state can bring in hyperscale data centers while also ensuring electricity ratepayers are protected.

Murray officials are proposing new zoning regulations specifically geared toward potential future data center projects looking to develop in the far western Kentucky city. Residents can comment on the proposed rules at a public hearing on June 9.