City Council To Hear Third Reading of Data Center Moratorium Ordinance
The Memphis City Council is scheduled to hold a third and final reading on October 6 for a proposed temporary moratorium on new data center developments. Supporters, including Indivisible Memphis and environmental justice advocates, say the pause would allow the city to study environmental, noise and water-use impacts and develop permanent regulations.
The Memphis City Council plans to take a third and final vote October 6 on an ordinance proposing a temporary moratorium on data center development in the city. The vote was postponed from September 15. Council Chair Jana Swearengen-Washington described the measure as a pause rather than a ban, while Council Member JB Smiley Jr. said it would give Memphis time to study impacts, engage residents and develop permanent regulations for large-scale data centers and high-density computing facilities.
Indivisible Memphis is supporting the proposal and plans to hold a rally before the council meeting. Environmental justice advocate Richard Massey also urged approval, citing emissions, noise and potential strain on the Memphis Sand Aquifer, as well as concerns about environmental inequities in Southwest Memphis.