Nashville Zoo opposes nearby data center over risks | Opinion
The Nashville Zoo is actively opposing a proposed AI data center planned for land adjacent to its property, citing concerns over high energy and water use, noise and light pollution, and potential harm to sensitive and endangered animal species. The Zoo is calling on the Nashville community to sign a petition and intervene with city leaders, highlighting a lack of environmental impact studies and regulatory safeguards for the project. The proposed data center is described as a 69,000 sq ft facility on a 23.5-acre lot, with plans for two more buildings and a substation, consuming at least 50 megawatts of power.
The Nashville Zoo is vocally opposing a proposed AI data center slated for construction on land directly adjacent to its property in Nashville, Tennessee. Rick Schwartz, president and CEO of the Nashville Zoo, stated that the development poses significant risks to the Zoo's 3,000 animals, staff, and visitors, as well as the nearby community.
The Zoo's primary concerns revolve around the data center's substantial energy and water consumption, which could strain the power grid and local water resources. The proposed 69,000 square-foot facility, with plans for additional buildings and a substation on a 23.5-acre lot, is projected to use at least 50 megawatts of power, equivalent to the consumption of 30,000 to 50,000 single-family homes. Beyond resource depletion, the Zoo worries about noise and light pollution impacting sensitive species like the clouded leopard, an endangered animal whose breeding success is highly susceptible to mechanical noise. Future plans for an Okapi breeding facility are also jeopardized.
Schwartz criticized the lack of environmental impact studies and public oversight, noting that developers have offered only their "word" that the project will cause no harm. The article also mentions potential health issues from electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and risks associated with power grid congestion and outages. The Zoo is urging the Nashville community to join its fight by signing a petition on Change.org and advocating for city leaders to intervene, emphasizing that data center projects are often approved through fast-track permitting processes with limited public input.