​Edmonson County Fiscal Court Enacts One-Year Moratorium on New Data Centers, AI Facilities, and Crypto Mining Operations

Artist image of a large data center in a country landscape.

Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County has temporarily halted new large-scale data centers, artificial intelligence facilities, cryptocurrency mining operations, and similar high-intensity computing projects while the Fiscal Court says they plan to review their potential impacts on the community after the second reading of Ordinance EC26-18, which was adopted in today's meeting. 

The Edmonson County Fiscal Court unanimously approved Ordinance No. EC26-18, which imposes a one-year moratorium on the approval, construction, development, or operation of these facilities and passed the first reading at the previous meeting.

The ordinance addresses concerns over the rapid growth of these facilities across Kentucky and the nation, noting potential strains on local infrastructure including the electrical grid, water supplies, roads, and public services. The ordinance also highlights worries about noise, environmental effects, land use compatibility, and overall quality of life for residents.

The Fiscal Court says it plans to use the pause to consult experts, review infrastructure capacity, evaluate health and safety issues, and develop appropriate regulations before allowing future projects.

"So, as we discussed before, I think all of us are in agreement that there's just not enough history or long term case study for us to be able to make the determination at this time, what would be best for the community," Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey said in today's meeting. "This is a fairly new thing, and this will give us an opportunity to take a step back, allow us to work with our county attorney, as well as other county attorneys, and people within the state government, to come up with an ordinance that would protect our people, as well as, you know, our community at-large. So that's why we chose to do the moratorium at this point. We feel like that's the best course of action right now."

Judge Lindsey also said that the state is providing training that will help communities determine their individual best courses of action with various examples and scenarios.

"There's some really good things out there for us to look at right now. My main concern is they're so new, what are the long term effects? I don't know if there are any, but I don't know that there aren't. So once they're there, you can't do anything about it at that point, so we need to do our research in our, you know, our educate ourselves upfront. And that's what I want to do, just so we know and have a better understanding of what the long-term effects are."

The second reading was adopted unanimously by magistrates, putting it into effect immediately.


Key Provisions:

• What’s Covered: The moratorium applies to data centers (facilities housing servers and networking equipment), AI processing facilities, cryptocurrency mining sites, and any other “high-intensity computing” operations that demand significant power, cooling, water, or telecommunications resources.
• What’s Prohibited: No new applications for permits, rezoning, building approvals, or business licenses related to these facilities will be accepted or processed during the moratorium.
• Duration: One year from the date of adoption, unless the Fiscal Court repeals, amends, or extends it.
• Exceptions: Existing, legally operating facilities are grandfathered in. Normal business computers and small-scale office operations are not affected.

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During the next 12 months, the county says it will study the issue, gather input from utility providers and experts, and consider new zoning rules, licensing requirements, or development standards. The ordinance emphasizes protecting public health, safety, and welfare while giving leaders time to make informed decisions about balancing potential economic benefits with community impacts.

This action places Edmonson County among several Kentucky localities that have recently moved to pause or regulate data center development amid growing statewide interest in the industry. In Cave City, developer interest in a data center has been temporarily halted by local leaders while they study the issue. Bowling Green currently has chosen to regulate rather than ban and a small campus-style data center already operates there.

No specific proposed projects in Edmonson County were mentioned in the ordinance.

The full text of Ordinance EC26-18 can be read below.

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