Jackson Delays Vote on Temporary Data Center Moratorium Following Confidential Legal Memo

The Jackson City Council delayed a vote on a proposed six-month moratorium on data center construction to address legal concerns. The delay was prompted by a confidential legal memo from City Attorney Drew Martin, suggesting the moratorium could be deemed a zoning change, which would require a 15-day public hearing notice that was not met. Council members, including President Brian Grizzell, expressed a desire to avoid the issues faced by neighboring communities like Southaven, which now contend with an xAI energy plant and unpermitted turbines.

Public testimony was divided. Residents like Erin Shirley Orey and Yolanda Daniels, representing Environmental Advocates of Mississippi, urged the council to enact the moratorium. They cited concerns over potential water and air pollution, noise, increased electricity bills for residents, and the impact of state-level tax incentives (like Senate Bill 2001) that removed community protection mechanisms. Conversely, attorney Robert Ireland, representing an unnamed client interested in building a data center in Jackson, argued against the moratorium, stating it could cause the city to miss a critical window for data center investment. He encouraged the city to pass regulations without a development pause, pointing to Ridgeland and Clinton as cities already developing standards.