Memphis City Council mulls data center pause
The Memphis City Council is considering a proposal for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction within city limits. The council voted to send the ordinance to the full council for discussion, aiming to study the facilities' community impact. The Greater Memphis Chamber opposes the moratorium, arguing it would hinder the city's economic growth in the data center industry.
The Memphis City Council is currently reviewing a proposal to implement a temporary moratorium on data center construction within the city. This measure, which would pause the approval, processing, and building of future data center developments for at least one year, has advanced to the full council for further discussion.
Sponsoring council members indicate that the moratorium would provide crucial time to conduct studies and better understand the impact these facilities have on communities, particularly addressing public concerns about noise and potential effects on local water supplies. Existing data centers are already present in areas like Boxtown and Whitehaven within Memphis.
Conversely, the Greater Memphis Chamber has voiced strong opposition to the proposal, urging the City Council to reject it. A spokesperson for the Chamber stated that such a measure would cause Memphis to miss out on growth within the data center industry, an industry for which they believe the city is uniquely suited due to its existing power infrastructure, water capacity, and logistical footprint. The Chamber affirmed its commitment to collaborate with the city.