After a heated public hearing where residents raised serious concerns about the project’s long-term effects on the community, energy demand, and the environment, plans for a huge data center in west Louisville are moving forward. On March 5, the Louisville Metro Planning Commission voted 6–1 to approve new plans for the hyperscale data center that was proposed near Camp Ground Road in the Rubbertown area. PowerHouse Data Centers and Poe Companies are working together to build the project. The approval makes it possible for a campus with seven buildings that will cover more than 150 acres and have about 1.6 million square feet of space. The buildings will hold servers and networking gear that are used for cloud computing, AI, and other technologies that use a lot of data. Public opposition dominates hearing Dozens of people showed up to the meeting and spoke for over an hour during public comment. They talked about their worries about pollution, noise, and how the facility could put a strain on local utilities. Many people who are against the project also said that it is moving forward under rules that are out of date and don’t take into account how hyperscale data centers work today. Eboni Neal Cochran, who lives in Chickasaw, told the commissioners that approving the project before stronger rules are put in place could set a bad example. A few speakers also asked what effect it would have on the use of water and electricity in an area of Louisville that is already surrounded by heavy industry. The proposed facility is expected to use about 400 megawatts of power, which is about the same amount of electricity that 400,000 homes use in a month. Backup diesel generators would be in each server warehouse in case of power outages. During the hearing, Kendra Isham of the Party for Socialism and Liberation criticized the project’s energy needs, saying that residents might have to pay more for utilities in the end. “We’re being asked to welcome some of the most energy-intensive development on the planet right here,” Isham said. Developers defend the location Developers say the location was chosen largely because of existing infrastructure. The property is already zoned for heavy industrial use and sits near major power transmission lines capable of supporting the facility’s energy demands. Louisville attorney Cliff Ashburner, who represented the developers, told commissioners that utilities including Louisville Gas and Electric and Louisville Water Company have confirmed they can meet the project’s needs. “The property is zoned for the heaviest industrial uses that we allow in our community,” Ashburner said during the meeting. “There also is a power line — the highest level of energy — running directly through the site.” Ashburner also reminded the commission that its decision was limited to determining whether the project complied with the city’s existing land-use rules. A major point of controversy is Louisville’s Land Development Code, which still categorizes data centers under the term “telecommunications hotel.” Critics say that language predates modern hyperscale facilities and leaves major regulatory gaps. Because the Camp Ground Road property has long been zoned for heavy industrial use, the project did not require rezoning or approval from the Louisville Metro Council — meaning the Planning Commission’s vote largely focused on whether the revised design met current technical standards. City leaders have acknowledged the need for updated rules. Metro Council previously directed planning officials to draft new regulations for data centers, though updated language has not yet been finalized. What happens next With the revised development plan approved, the project can move ahead without further legislative approval. Developers have not confirmed a construction timeline, though earlier plans suggested the first phase could open as early as late 2026. If completed, the campus would become Jefferson County’s first hyperscale data center. The post West Louisville data center approved despite heated community opposition appeared first on LEO Weekly | Louisville Eccentric Observer. ...read more read less