Nashville council member proposes zoning rules to regulate data centers, hoping to protect neighborhoods
A Metro Council member in Nashville, TN, is proposing new zoning rules to regulate data center development across Davidson County. The legislation aims to set restrictions on facility size, location near sensitive areas, and require closed-loop cooling systems for water conservation. This initiative seeks to proactively address potential community concerns and protect neighborhoods from unregulated growth.
Metro Council member Rollin Horton has introduced a bill to establish new zoning regulations for data centers in Nashville, Tennessee, aiming to proactively manage their development across Davidson County. Horton initiated the proposal after discovering the city currently lacks specific rules governing data center construction and operation.
The proposed legislation would categorize data centers into small, medium, and large, with strict limitations on their placement in relation to neighborhoods, schools, daycares, parks, and the zoo. Notably, hyperscale data centers exceeding 500,000 square feet would be banned in Nashville if the bill passes. Furthermore, the proposal mandates that all data centers utilize closed-loop cooling systems, preventing continuous water draw and discharge of polluted water.
While MTSU economics professor Dan J. Smith acknowledges the economic benefits of data center development, he also highlights the "not in my backyard" sentiment common in communities. Horton emphasizes that his proposal is designed to balance economic growth with community input and protection, ensuring residents are informed and have a say in proposed data center projects. The bill has garnered support from over a dozen council members and is scheduled for its first reading on Tuesday, June 2.