Commissioners request data center moratorium in Roane County

News Clip0:26WBIR Channel 10·Roane County, TN·7/14/2026

The Roane County Commission enacted a two-year moratorium on data center construction, changing an initial proposal for a six-month pause. The resolution tasks the county planning commission with issuing the pause and developing new regulations for future data center sites.

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Gov: Roane County Commission, Roane County Planning Commission

Roane County, Tennessee, is set to become the latest East Tennessee community to implement a pause on new data center developments. The Roane County Commission advanced a resolution to establish a moratorium during its recent meeting.

Initially proposed as a six-month pause, commissioners amended the resolution to extend the moratorium to a period of two years. The resolution specifically directs the county planning commission to enact the pause and subsequently formulate new regulations governing the siting and development of any future data center facilities within the county.