Over 300,000 Sign Petition Against Proposed Data Center Near Nashville Zoo
A proposed 69,000 square foot data center next to the Nashville Zoo is facing strong opposition, with over 300,000 signatures on a petition and country star Brad Paisley joining the fight. Zoo leaders express concerns about impacts on animals and visitors, while Nashville's mayor and legal teams are reviewing the project's approval process under recent state law changes.
The proposed construction of a 69,000 square foot data center adjacent to the Nashville Zoo's parking lot has ignited significant local and national opposition. A petition against the project has garnered over 300,000 signatures, and country music star Brad Paisley has publicly urged people to sign it, calling the proposal "the wrong fit for the area" and emphasizing the Zoo's importance to the city. Zoo president Rick Schwartz affirmed strong community sentiment against the project, stating that "The community does not want this next to the Zoo" and calling for continued support to block it.
DC BLOX, the company behind the proposed data center, has issued a statement to ABC News, promising to minimize local impacts and ensure no health risks to residents or animals, and clarifying that the facility "will not be an AI factory." Meanwhile, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell announced that metro legal teams are examining the project, specifically assessing how recent changes in state law might influence the approval process for the development.