Jackson City Council votes to approve data center moratorium

The Jackson City Council voted 5-2 to enact a data center moratorium, temporarily pausing all data center development within the city. The ordinance, passed on Tuesday morning at Jackson City Hall, allows the city to evaluate potential risks associated with data centers.

The decision followed months of public discussion and varied opinions from council members and residents. Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley, recently elected City Council President, expressed that "Jackson is not ready" for an industry still being tested nationally, though he personally voted against the moratorium. Conversely, Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote, also a dissenting vote, argued that the moratorium sends a negative message to businesses and hinders economic growth, highlighting data centers as the "fastest growing, most robust part of the U.S. economy."

Public speakers voiced strong opinions both for and against the moratorium. Sabir Abdul-Haqq urged the council to pass the measure, citing concerns about "irreversible, extractive harm," utility bills, the environment, and health, specifically referencing a "200-acre data center proposed for the Forrest Avenue Extension." In contrast, Robert Ireland warned that a moratorium could limit Jackson's ability to attract data centers that could meet residents' concerns regarding water, utility billing, emissions, and noise, while also providing significant economic benefits, noting $5 billion in projected tax revenue from two data centers in nearby Madison County. The council clarified that no specific project was addressed during the moratorium discussion.