Charlestown residents are raising concerns about a proposed data center planned for Shadow Lake Industrial Park, with worries centered on property values, pollution, noise, and long-term quality of life.
Developer Presents Proposal
Angie Akers, who lives about half a mile from the proposed site, said she does not want the project to move forward. "I feel like we, in the next several years, were planning on downsizing, and my concern is property value. Who is going to live near a data center?" Akers said.
On Monday, Akers and other residents attended a meeting with the developer, QLEVR, LLC, along with engineers and project specialists. The company described the proposal as a small, low-impact data center that would employ about 10 to 15 on-site staff members.
Resident Concerns
Still, some neighbors remain uneasy about what the project could mean over time. "What’s my daughter’s quality of living going to be with a data center behind her house in 10-20 years?" said Lauren Nichols.
Charlestown Mayor Treva Hodges said it is essential for residents to stay informed and understand that not all data centers are the same. "I think it’s very important that people understand that there are different kinds of data centers, and to look at the information that we’ve been provided by this company," Hodges said.
According to QLEVR, the proposed project would be a single-story, 55,000-square-foot facility with no plans for expansion. The company says the building would use about 200 gallons of water per day — roughly the equivalent of one to three single-family homes — and would be designed to meet or exceed city, county, and national standards.
The facility would also use a maximum of 5 megawatts of power, which the company says is comparable to the demand of a large hospital or medical campus. QLEVR also says there will be minimal difference in overall noise levels that nearby neighbors would experience.
Original reporting: WLKY Louisville — read the source article.
