How major development projects are reshaping Tennessee communities

The Tennessean has launched "Shifting Ground," an occasional series investigating how significant development projects are transforming communities throughout Tennessee, examining the public's response to these changes. The series highlights critical questions about which communities bear the burden of growth, citing concerns over land use, environmental consequences, and quality of life, using both data centers and landfills as examples of such developments.

The initial focus of the series is a proposed landfill project in Scott County, located on the Cumberland Plateau in East Tennessee. Reporting involved interviews with local residents, environmental advocates, industry experts, and the project's developer. Journalists reviewed permit applications, environmental studies, court filings, and public comments, traveling to the Tennessee Capitol and the proposed landfill site to speak with residents who have actively organized opposition efforts.

The article notes that the landfill proposal remains active and is subject to ongoing legal challenges, resulting in some disputed facts and claims. The Tennessean verifies information through public records and official documents while presenting perspectives from both proponents and opponents of the project. The series aims to follow these increasing conflicts over land, water, and development as Tennessee continues to grow, documenting the impact on affected communities.