Data center committee receives first ordinance draft
The Wilson County Data Center Advisory Committee has received the first draft of a proposed zoning ordinance for data centers. The committee will review and potentially amend the draft before it is presented to the county commission for a vote. Discussions also covered fire safety codes and data center interest in the county.
The Wilson County Data Center Advisory Committee has received the initial draft of a proposed zoning ordinance for data centers interested in locating within Wilson County. Planning Services Director Christopher Lawless authored the draft, which the committee will now review for potential modifications before submitting it back to Lawless. The proposed ordinance is then slated for presentation to the county commission, possibly for a vote.
During the meeting, Rosemary Bates from Gallatin’s Economic Development office provided insights, noting Meta's large facility in Gallatin and its investment in road infrastructure. She also mentioned a co-location data center in the area that remains vacant years after its construction.
Capt. Daniel Cowan, WEMA Fire Marshal, addressed the committee on county fire codes and the distinct challenges posed by modern data centers due to high electrical loads, concentrated fuel loads, and reliance on specialized fire protection systems. Corey Johns, Executive Director of the Joint Economic and Community Development Board of Wilson County, discussed ongoing interest from data center developers in the county.
The next meeting of the Data Advisory Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 3 p.m. at the Wilson County Courthouse in Lebanon.