Scottsville Approves Two-Year Data Center Moratorium

SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. (WNKY) – The City of Scottsville has officially joined Allen County in pressing pause on future data center development, with the Scottsville City Council unanimously approving the second and final reading of a 24-month moratorium Monday night.

The ordinance temporarily halts the construction and development of new data centers within city limits while officials study their potential impacts on local infrastructure, utilities and the community. Allen County Fiscal Court approved a similar 24-month moratorium last month, meaning both the county and its county seat have now enacted temporary bans.

Mayor David Burch said the decision was driven by uncertainty surrounding the long-term effects data centers can have on communities.

“I think the uncertainty of what data centers represent to communities. I think there’s just not enough information about the use of water, electricity, the burden on our utilities,” Burch said. “I think that is a huge question mark that has yet to be answered by anybody.”

Burch said the city considered an outright ban but ultimately determined a two-year moratorium would provide time to evaluate how similar developments affect other communities before making a permanent decision.

Burch added, “I think a 24-month moratorium gives everybody a chance to breathe and to observe what’s going to happen in the future. It gives us time to do the research and honestly just kind of observe what’s going on in some of the other communities.”

City leaders say they also want residents to be involved in any future decisions regarding data centers.

“We’re not going to do anything until we have more information, and we want the people…we want the feedback, because this is our community and people have a stake in it,” he said.

Burch emphasized that the moratorium should not be viewed as a sign Scottsville is closed to new business. Instead, he said the city remains focused on attracting employers that create jobs while protecting existing infrastructure and quality of life.

“We’re open for business because most of the businesses, when they come in here, they have a plan,” he added. “We know exactly what they’re going to do, how many people they’re going to employ. I think with data centers, we just don’t know.”

During the next 24 months, city officials plan to monitor data center projects in other communities, gather public input and determine whether regulations, additional safeguards or a permanent prohibition would best serve Scottsville’s future.