Two-year moratorium on data center construction and operation (adopted…
Bell County, Kentucky — Two-year moratorium on data center construction and operation (adopted July 2, 2026)
Bell County, Kentucky · Two-year moratorium on data center construction and operation (ordinance, first reading)
- Status
- In effect
- Expires
- July 2, 2028
- Applies to
- Bell County, Kentucky
The Bell County Fiscal Court adopted a two-year moratorium on the construction, development and operation of data centers, halting a Murray Industries hyperscale project that had already begun clearing land. Residents later reported concern that site work continued.
Who is protected: People subject to the measure.
Legal detail
Bell County Fiscal Court, KY — ordinance imposing a two-year moratorium on construction, development and operation of data centers and data storage facilities. First reading approved unanimously (late June 2026, Middlesboro News); second reading passed without opposition Thursday July 2, 2026 (WYMT), earlier than the planned July 14 date, presided by Judge-Executive Albey Brock. Targets Murray Industries' planned hyperscale data center on former mine land along the Bell-Knox line. Expiry computed ~July 2, 2028; ordinance number not reported.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Bell County, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | July 2, 2026 |
| Citation | Two-year moratorium on data center construction and operation (ordinance, first reading) |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI |
| News report | Data center moratorium approved |
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
See something wrong or out of date? Submit a correction. Every entry must carry a verifiable source.