Family slows proposed Tennessee data center project
The Wright family has requested Cleveland officials delay action on their proposed 850-acre, $11.3 billion Project River data center in Charleston, Tennessee, citing community concerns. This delay will allow them to bring in third-party technical experts to review the project. Meanwhile, a separate data center project by D.C. Blox in Nashville faces an ongoing lawsuit against the local government over permit processing.
The Wright family, proposing the massive $11.3 billion Project River industrial campus in Charleston, Tennessee, has asked Cleveland officials to temporarily halt further action on their data center development. This request comes in response to significant community opposition, with hundreds attending meetings to voice concerns.
The 850-acre project, which includes a data center to be powered by a hybrid forest biomass and natural gas plant generating up to 1,500 megawatts, has promised unprecedented tax benefits for local schools, teacher salaries, and first responders, according to Lukas Salyer, president of Wright Industrial Group. The family had been negotiating a planned unit development agreement with the city of Cleveland, which included provisions for noise mitigation, protection of the Hiwassee River, and 90% onsite water generation, along with funding for a new fire and EMS facility.
In a statement, the Wright family emphasized their commitment to being a "good neighbor" and stated the delay would allow them to onboard a third-party team of technical experts to review all aspects of the project and address public concerns. The City of Cleveland has not yet responded to the request.
This is not the only data center project facing hurdles in Tennessee. In Nashville, a separate legal battle is unfolding between the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and Atlanta-based D.C. Blox. D.C. Blox is suing the Metro government, alleging a "targeted attack" and refusal to process permits for its proposed data center near the Nashville Zoo, a case that remains pending in the courts.