Livingston Parish Council considering regulations on power plants, electric-generating facilities

The useful part

LIVINGSTON -- The Livingston Parish Council is considering its first true regulations for modern power plants. An ordinance was introduced by the council as an amendment to the parish's Unified Land Development Code. It would bring regulations, including restricting electric generating facilities to heavy industrial districts and requiring special permits.

How it works

• However, some residents were concerned about the timing of the ordinance, as it comes amid speculation in the parish about the possibility of a data center.
• "And that's what we want to know as residents here: would you be for or against a data center being built here?" A Livingston parish resident asked the council.
• However, District 5 Councilwoman Erin Sandefur says the timing is just a coincidence.
• If you follow the timeline, I have stayed with this for two and a half years, and to squash the rumors, we don't have anything that I know of," Sandefur said.
• Earlier this month, parish president Randy Delatte had to address these rumors, saying there are currently no plans for a data center.

What to take from it

The council echoed that Thursday night as well. The ordinance regulating industrial power plants is something that Sandef...

Details worth keeping

Council members say it is necessary to keep up with new technology. "I know data centers are a hot commodity right now, going all over the United States, and trust me when I say, if I found out that there is one coming to Livingston Parish, everyone will know at that point," Councilman Ryan Chavers said during the meeting.