Carter County Commission approves moratorium on data centers
The Carter County Commission has approved a one-year moratorium on data centers and crypto mining to investigate environmental and community impacts. This decision follows the Hawkins County Commission's ban on such operations, which resulted in a federal lawsuit from ExoticRidge Crypto Company LLC.
The Carter County Commission voted to approve a one-year moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining during its meeting on Monday night. Leaders in Carter County stated the temporary ban would allow them to conduct a thorough investigation into the potential environmental and community impacts of such operations.
This action by Carter County follows similar legislative moves in other U.S. localities. Notably, the Hawkins County Commission in Tennessee previously passed a resolution to ban data centers and cryptocurrency mines. This ban has since led to a federal lawsuit initiated by ExoticRidge Crypto Company LLC, which expressed interest in developing a data center in the Bulls Gap area of Hawkins County.