TenKey data center on Steele Road (Franklin)
Also called: Franklin-Simpson Data Storage and Service Center, Project Lionsgate/Blackjack
TenKey wants to build three large data center buildings near I-65 Exit 2 in Franklin, with its own natural gas power plant. Reported costs range from about $4.8 billion to $6 billion. The city planning board approved a first plan in 2026, but the county and a citizens group are fighting it in court.
Where things stand: Franklin's planning commission approved the preliminary plan in March 2026. Two lawsuits are pending; a judge planned to rule at an October 14, 2026 hearing.
🕒 Latest update (Aug 6, 2026): Simpson Circuit Court heard arguments in TenKey's case against the county and took it under review.
Simpson Circuit Court. Anyone can come and speak.
What we know
- 📍 Where421 Steele Road, near I-65 Exit 2 (geocoded), Franklin, Simpson County
- 🏢 CompanyTenKey LandCo I LLC
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromNatural gas turbines on site, separate from the TVA power grid (developer's plan).
- ❄️ Coolingclosed-loop cooling (developer's statement)
- 👷 Jobs promised150
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Which tech company would use the Franklin data center? 🙋 I'll find out
- How many megawatts would the gas power plant make, and does it need an air permit from the state? 🙋 I'll find out
- How much water will it use? 🙋 I'll find out
- Was a secret deal (NDA) signed with the city or county? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- May 22, 2025The city of Franklin annexed the Steele Road land after TenKey bought it.
- Oct 21, 2025Franklin Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously against the developer's zoning change request.
- Dec 2025Simpson County Fiscal Court passed an ordinance that requires a conditional use permit for data centers and limits them to heavy industrial zones.
- Jan 20, 2026TenKey sued Simpson County, saying the county cannot put conditions on land inside Franklin city limits.
- March 3, 2026Franklin Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the preliminary development plan, with conditions such as monthly progress reports.
- April 2, 2026A citizens group, Franklin Citizens for Responsible Development, sued to overturn the approval.
- Aug 6, 2026Simpson Circuit Court heard arguments in TenKey's case against the county and took it under review.
Local votes and rules
⚖️ Court case
A residents' group, Franklin Citizens for Responsible Development, sued to overturn the Franklin Planning and Zoning Commission's March 2026 approval of TenKey's data center plan. A key question is a 2025 state law (House Bill 321) that limits who can sue over zoning decisions. The group says that limit is unconstitutional. The judge planned more review before an October 2026 hearing.
✅ Approved
Franklin's Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve TenKey's preliminary plan for a large data center at 421 Steele Road off I-65. It had put off the vote twice. The commission added conditions: monthly updates, public reports and water use tracking.
⚖️ Court case
Data center developer TenKey LandCo sued Simpson County Fiscal Court to throw out the county's December 2025 data center ordinance. TenKey says the county cannot set zoning rules for the whole county when the city of Franklin controls land inside its limits. TenKey plans a $5 billion data center off I-65 in Franklin with on-site gas turbines.
📜 Data center rules
Simpson County Fiscal Court passed rules for data centers and on-site power plants. Data centers need a special permit (conditional use permit) and can only go in heavy industrial zones. The county can oversee energy and water use, noise, pollution and on-site power. The developer of a planned project in Franklin threatened to sue.
✋ Turned down
Franklin's Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously against a zoning change that would have allowed 'advanced technology centers' (data centers) with on-site power plants. Members said the wording was too vague and gave the city too little control. The vote was a recommendation to the Franklin City Commission.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Zoning regulators in Franklin reject 'generational opportunity' data center proposal · WKU Public Radio · Oct 22, 2025
- Simpson County passes ordinance placing greater restrictions on data centers · Louisville Public Media · Jan 8, 2026
- TenKey LandCo sues Simpson County over data center ordinance · WBKO · Jan 28, 2026
- Franklin Planning and Zoning Commission approves proposed data center · WBKO · March 4, 2026
- Lawsuit filed over approval of proposed Franklin data center project · WBKO · April 6, 2026
- Judge weighs county control over Franklin data center · Franklin Favorite · Aug 13, 2026
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