City of Jackson hosts data center education forum
The City of Jackson, Mississippi, hosted an education forum to inform residents about data centers and their potential impacts, including energy, water use, environmental concerns, land use, and noise. This event follows the Jackson City Council tabling a temporary moratorium on data centers. A public hearing is scheduled for June 22 to discuss potential zoning changes related to data center development.
The City of Jackson, Mississippi, through its Planning and Development Department, hosted an education forum to inform residents about data centers and their potential implications for the capital city. The event, held at JSU's College of Science, Engineering and Technology Auditorium, featured a panel discussing various aspects of data centers and their operations.
The forum addressed several community considerations, including energy and water consumption, environmental impacts, land use, and quality of life issues such as noise. Angela Brown, the city’s planning and development director, acknowledged residents' concerns, noting that while advancements have been made to mitigate issues seen in early data center developments, people have a right to have their concerns heard and addressed through the planning process.
This educational initiative comes weeks after the Jackson City Council tabled a temporary moratorium on data centers. Furthermore, a public hearing has been scheduled for June 22 at Jackson City Hall to discuss potential changes to zoning regulations specifically concerning data centers.