Jackson Data Center Proposal Expands to 230 Acres Amid Mounting Local Opposition
Jackson residents are actively opposing Saxum Investment Company's expanded data center proposal, which now covers 230 acres. The city is considering a six-month moratorium on data center approvals to establish new regulations, which has delayed the rezoning debate. Local concerns primarily focus on potential environmental impacts and the strain on the city's water supply.
Dozens of Jackson, Mississippi residents attended a meeting on May 27, 2026, to express strong opposition to a proposed data center in Northwest Jackson, chanting "No data center." The attorney representing Saxum Investment Company, Robert Ireland, requested a postponement of the rezoning hearing, citing the City of Jackson's consideration of a six-month moratorium on data center approvals to draft specific regulations.
Unbeknownst to many protestors, Saxum had already expanded its rezoning request from 190 to 230 acres a month prior, adding a new parcel in Hinds County to the proposed site near the Forest Avenue Extension and the Ashley Acres neighborhood. This expansion brought a new landowner, Matt Casteel, into the conflict. Casteel, who operates a worm farm on 1.77 acres of the newly added parcel, opposes the rezoning due to concerns about potential environmental impacts on his organic farm, including soil and water quality, and a lack of communication from the developer.
The City of Jackson's proposed moratorium aims to allow time to establish comprehensive data center regulations, following experiences in nearby cities like Ridgeland that implemented rules only after construction began. Residents, particularly with the city's recent water crisis in mind, raised significant concerns about the data center's potential water consumption and pollution. The debate on Saxum's rezoning application has been delayed until the next Planning Commission meeting scheduled for June 24, 2026.