Bradley County moves to draft data center zoning rules, dispelling AI site rumors
Bradley County, Tennessee, is actively working to draft new zoning regulations and guidelines for future data centers, including cryptocurrency mining operations. This move comes as the county mayor addresses and dispels rumors regarding a specific AI data center project near Walker Valley High School, which had sparked a social media outcry and local concerns.
Bradley County, Tennessee, is developing new zoning regulations for data centers in response to growing concerns and a "social media firestorm" over a rumored AI data center site. Residents, including Larry Nadu, voiced worries about the potential impact of a data center near Walker Valley High School, affecting thousands of students.
Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis addressed these rumors on Facebook, clarifying that "No application has been filed, no formal request has been made, and no vote on any specific facility is scheduled." He also confirmed that SDCL Tennessee Prop LLC owns the property in question, having purchased it a year ago for $22 million, though no plans have been submitted to the county or state.
Bradley County's planning director, Bentley Thomas, stated that the commission is scheduled to discuss data centers next week, not to approve a specific project, but to establish new definitions and regulations for such facilities. The initiative stems from the county's current lack of specific zoning resolutions pertaining to data centers or cryptocurrency mining.