Residents fight to keep AI data center campus away from Nashville Zoo
Nashville residents are actively opposing a proposed 50-megawatt AI data center campus by DC BLOX, citing concerns about its impact on the Nashville Zoo's animals, noise, water usage, and strain on the power grid. A public hearing was held, nearly 400,000 people signed an online petition, and the Nashville Metropolitan Council has advanced a 90-day moratorium on data center permits. Country star Brad Paisley also voiced opposition.
Nashville residents are actively fighting a proposed AI data center campus that DC BLOX, an Atlanta-based digital infrastructure company, plans to build next to the Nashville Zoo. The development, an estimated 50-megawatt campus including two data center buildings, a substation, and a security building, has sparked widespread concern over its potential impact on the zoo's more than 3,000 animals, including endangered species, as well as noise, water usage, and electricity demands that could strain the local power grid.
A public hearing was held at the Metro Planning Commission chambers, where residents voiced their opposition and called for new legislation to regulate such facilities in Nashville. Rick Schwartz, CEO of the Nashville Zoo, expressed worries about power loss affecting life support systems for animals and the breeding facilities. Country music star Brad Paisley, a local resident and zoo advocate, also condemned the project as a "monstrosity" and an "absolute eyesore" in an Instagram video, urging public action.
Nearly 400,000 people have signed an online petition to block the project. In response to the growing opposition, the Nashville Metropolitan Council recently advanced a 90-day moratorium on data center permits, aiming to temporarily halt the development. DC BLOX has stated its commitment to minimizing local impacts and ensuring no health risks to residents or animals.