Commissioners hear data center moratorium request
Decatur County Commissioners heard a request from a resident for a moratorium or outright ban on data center construction in the county. The resident cited concerns about farmland, water, electricity usage, noise, and the impact on local bees.
Shelby County resident Chad Crowder and his family appealed to the Decatur County Commissioners on Monday, requesting either a moratorium or a complete ban on data center construction within Decatur County.
Crowder articulated several concerns, including the preservation of farmland, the conservation of water and electricity, and the potential for disruptive noise from operational data centers, which he claimed could negatively impact mental health. He also suggested that data centers disorient local bees, hindering their ability to navigate back to their hives. The commissioners heard the appeal as Crowder advocated for measures to prevent future data center development.