Shelby County Commission passes data center moratorium on first reading
The Shelby County Commission approved a data center moratorium on first reading, extending proposed restrictions to unincorporated areas surrounding Memphis. Commissioners cited concerns about protecting farmland, open space, the aquifer, air quality and ratepayers, while opponents of the measure said there are no current data centers or permits in those areas.
The Shelby County Commission voted on first reading to advance a moratorium on new data centers in unincorporated Shelby County. The ordinance largely mirrors a proposed Memphis measure but would apply to areas outside the city limits, where county officials said no data centers or related permits currently exist.
Commissioner Henri Brooks, the ordinance’s sponsor, said the measure is intended to protect farmland, greenspace, gardens and Shelby Farms from potential impacts associated with unregulated development. Commissioners Mark Billingsley and Derek Mills questioned whether a moratorium was premature, citing the lack of existing projects and noting that the county’s Health Department does not rank data centers among its top 25 polluters. Potential amendments may be considered before a third and final reading.