City Gives Final Nod to 18 Month Data Center Moratorium Ordinance
The City of Smithville, Tennessee, has formally adopted an 18-month moratorium on data center and cryptocurrency mining operations. This temporary ban allows city officials to study the impacts of these technologies and draft comprehensive zoning amendments. Concerns include noise pollution, electrical grid demands, water consumption, and electronic waste.
The City of Smithville, Tennessee's Board of Aldermen formally adopted an ordinance establishing an 18-month moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations during its recent monthly meeting. This temporary prohibition halts the acceptance, processing, and approval of all related applications, including building permits, zoning certificates, and site plans.
The moratorium was enacted to allow the Smithville Planning Commission, Codes Enforcement, and the Board of Aldermen sufficient time to study the impacts of high-density computing technologies. Officials aim to draft comprehensive zoning amendments and hold necessary public hearings without pressure from pending applications.
Key municipal concerns driving the decision include continuous high-frequency noise pollution from cooling systems, exceptional electrical grid load demands, excessive water resource consumption, and the rapid generation of electronic waste. The city emphasized that establishing such operations without strict oversight and environmental protections poses a direct threat to the quiet enjoyment, small-town character, and economic stability of Smithville citizens.