By Daniel Swinney

A loud humming noise interrupted a Louisville Metro Council meeting on Sept. 15.

A video of the disruption went viral on social media. The noise was an audio recording of generators and cooling fans used by data centers. It was being played in protest of a hyperscale data center proposal to be built on a 154-acre lot on Campground Road.

A member of the local organization No Data Center 502 played the noise to protest the 1.8 million square foot data center, replicating what they say residents would hear at all hours from their homes.

“We’re against the construction of hyperscale AI data centers because the people of Louisville are against the construction of hyperscale AI data centers,” said Danielle Ray, one of the lead organizers for No Data Center 502.

The fight

The grassroots organization was founded in October 2025 after the city announced developer Steve Poe’s data center plans. Since then, the group of residents has made progress toward preventing it from being built.

“We’ve won a six-month moratorium and finally have updated zoning legislation making its way through Metro Council to stop future hyperscale data centers from stealing from the community,” said Ray.

Many are already aware of rising water and electric costs for those living near hyperscale data centers. But Ray specifically cited Kentucky House Bill 775, a bill that granted 50-year tax breaks to data centers built in Kentucky, as an example of how Poe and other developers take from the community.

“We’re talking billions of dollars stolen from working people across Kentucky whilst our elected officials in Frankfort slash public funding for education, Medicare and Medicaid, SNAP and TARC,” said Ray.

Poe Companies, along with Powerhouse Data Centers, plans to build Kentucky’s first hyperscale data center in Rubbertown, located in West Louisville. Ray and many Rubbertown residents see this as the latest in a series of environmentally harmful decisions that have affected the predominantly Black community for decades.

A recent report by the Kapor Foundation suggests data centers are primarily being built in impoverished and largely Black communities. Many of these communities already suffer from degraded air quality and health concerns due to local industry and lack of regulations.

“It’s no coincidence that the West and Southwest parts of the city are overindustrialized,” said Ray. “All of our struggles are connected. As such, we express solidarity and extend support to various fights against environmental racism and injustice.”

Ideology

No Data Center 502’s collectivist and social ideals have drawn criticism from opponents. Metro Councilor Anthony Piagentini, seen in the viral video asking the protester to stop playing the data center noise, referred to the organization as the ‘Marxist Mob’ during the moratorium hearing in August.

“Unironically, I would say this is a fairly accurate description of the politics of myself as well as our organization,” said Ray.

Ray stressed that No Data Center 502 is open to all Louisville residents, not just leftists, as long as they are there in good faith. “We are a mixed bag of folks from all over the city when it comes to politics! We have people of all ages and backgrounds in our organization,” Ray said.

Ray believes the issues surrounding data centers are inextricable from what leftists call a class struggle against U.S. imperialism, overpolicing and AI-driven surveillance. For Ray, building Poe’s hyperscale data center would exploit the working class people of Rubbertown, while the land could instead enrich the community.

“There are so many other positive alternatives to build on the 154 acres that are being occupied by Steve Poe,” said Ray. “Reforesting, grocery stores, community centers, new schools, housing, doctor’s offices, the options are endless.”

The Louisville moratorium on data centers will end in February 2027. This will give Louisville Metro Council time to decide on zoning amendments and other associated regulations for future data center proposals. The council could also debate a proposed ban on all data centers in Louisville.

The moratorium and potential regulations do not impact the Campground Road hyperscale data center, as the construction was approved and began before the moratorium was voted on.

Despite the setback, No Data Center 502 remains committed to preventing its construction and achieving a total ban on data centers in the city.  “Ultimately, the way to prevent hyperscale data centers from being built in Louisville is through regulations and policy,” said Ray.

Image Courtesy / Poe Companies