City planners back moratorium on data centers here

The Paris Municipal Regional Planning Commission recently voted to recommend a moratorium on data center developments, a move that aligns with a growing nationwide trend. This recommendation will now be forwarded to the Paris Commission for final approval.

According to Jessica Crouch, the city's community development director, the primary reason for the proposed halt is to allow city planners sufficient time to evaluate and research how data centers would integrate into the city's new zoning ordinance, which is currently under development with the assistance of external consultants. Richard Edwards, the planning commission chairman and former electric department superintendent for the Paris Board of Public Utilities, highlighted the significant electricity demands of data centers, noting that their climate control systems require substantial air conditioning. He also pointed out that such energy loads can necessitate intervention from entities like the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) if local electric services are strained.

Commission member Brent Greer emphasized the importance of involving the Paris Board of Public Utilities in future discussions regarding data centers. While no data centers currently operate in Paris, a bitcoin operation is located just off North Market Street. The moratorium is intended to provide city officials with more time to thoroughly consider the implications of data center proliferation before making long-term decisions.