Council Passes Data Center Moratorium, Renews LG&E Franchise Amid Municipalization Push

Louisville Metro Council capped a marathon session by adopting a six-month moratorium on all data center development applications — closing a loophole along the way — while defeating a bid to double the freeze to a full year. Earlier in the evening, the body renewed its gas franchise with LG&E on an 18-3 vote, but not before a spirited debate that put utility municipalization squarely on the council's radar.

• Data center moratorium adopted 24-1 after council rejects push to extend freeze from 180 days to one year

• LG&E gas franchise renewed 18-3 as members from both parties pledge to explore municipalization and competitive bidding

• Massage therapists warn anti-trafficking licensing ordinance threatens small businesses with $6,000/month in new costs

• Feed Louisville and Celebrate Recovery each see NDF funding boosted on the floor as council members rally around food insecurity and substance recovery

• Violence prevention advocate pitches community-led Louisville Peace Project targeting four high-violence zip codes

After eight committee meetings, an 11-month administrative freeze, and heated public testimony, Louisville Metro Council formalized a 180-day moratorium on all rezoning, conditional use permits, and development plan applications for data centers and telecommunication hotels. The vote was 24-1.