Memphis City Council delays action on data center moratorium | ABC24 This Week
The Memphis City Council has delayed a vote on a proposed 12-month data center moratorium until October 6th. Councilman JB Smiley stated they are amending the moratorium to address concerns and incorporate mandatory community engagement, along with guidelines for operations and zoning. Residents are expressing concerns about noise and pollution from data centers.
The Memphis City Council has postponed a vote on a proposed moratorium on new data center development until October 6th. Councilman JB Smiley explained that the delay is to allow for further public input and to amend the proposed ordinance, aiming to ease concerns among both council members and residents.
Three ordinances are currently under consideration: one proposing a 12-month pause on data center development until specific laws are drafted, and two others establishing guidelines for data center operations and zoning. Councilman Smiley anticipates that the majority of the council will support the amended moratorium on October 6th.
Smiley also addressed the presence of Elon Musk in Memphis, clarifying that while Musk's government relations team reached out, he declined a meeting, asserting that "the city of Memphis is not for sale" and reiterating his support for the moratorium. He emphasized the need for regulations to protect communities like Boxtown, Westwood, Mitchell Heights, and White Haven, whose residents are experiencing unbearable noise and pollution from existing data centers.
Speakers on the panel, including former city councilman Scott McCormick, discussed the potential legal ramifications of an outright moratorium and the importance of establishing guardrails while promoting economic growth. Smiley stressed the necessity of mandatory community engagement before enacting laws and highlighted the long-term economic impact of data centers, noting their low job creation compared to the strain on the community's infrastructure and environment. The council is also exploring how data center revenues could improve infrastructure and address deferred maintenance in schools.