Nashville Zoo CEO speaks out against proposed data center
Nashville Zoo President and CEO Rick Schwartz spoke before the Metro Nashville Council, urging them to protect the zoo's animals and visitors from the potential negative impacts of a proposed data center. The facility would be located near the zoo's clouded leopard habitat, a signature conservation species. Schwartz advocated for legislation regulating data centers.
Nashville Zoo President and CEO Rick Schwartz addressed the Metro Nashville Council on July 7, speaking out against a proposed data center development. Schwartz emphasized the zoo's mission to protect its 3,150 animals, including the endangered clouded leopard, and highlighted the potential negative impacts of the data center on these vulnerable species, as well as the zoo's 370 staff members, surrounding neighbors, and 1.4 million annual visitors.
Schwartz noted that the proposed data center would be located only 320 feet from the clouded leopard habitat. He urged the council to use every tool available to protect the zoo and its inhabitants, questioning whether such a large data center should be allowed in a uniquely sensitive location. He clarified that the issue was not whether data centers should exist in Nashville, but rather their placement near the zoo. Schwartz concluded by stating his ethical responsibility to protect the animals and his refusal to allow them to become an "experiment of the long-term effects of data centers."
According to the article's URL, DC BLOX is the company associated with the proposed data center. Schwartz's remarks during the council meeting voiced support for legislation aimed at regulating data centers.