Louisville and Pima County implement data center moratoriums

Local governments in Louisville, Kentucky, and Pima County, Arizona, are implementing measures to pause or regulate the development of new data centers.

The Louisville Metro Council passed a 180-day moratorium on new data center proposals, which was signed into law by Mayor Craig Greenberg. The pause is intended to allow the city to evaluate environmental risks and develop new land development codes. The decision follows concerns regarding large-scale proposals in the Rubbertown neighborhood, an area historically impacted by industrial air pollution.

In Pima County, the Board of Supervisors has instructed staff to draft a resolution for a four-month moratorium. Officials cited the significant energy and water consumption required by these facilities as a primary reason for establishing new guidelines and transparency for residents. While the county considers these restrictions, the city of Tucson has already implemented zoning regulations covering noise, backup power, and environmental reviews. The Goldwater Institute noted that many local governments nationwide are currently grappling with how to manage data center resource utilization.