‘The fight is not over’: Dozens turn out to voice concerns on data center in Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi, residents are actively opposing proposed data center developments and urging the City Council to implement stricter environmental protections and updated zoning rules. The City Council recently tabled a proposed temporary moratorium and is working on a new ordinance, while Saxum Investment Group's rezoning application for a data center project has been repeatedly postponed.
Dozens of Jackson, Mississippi, residents attended a special City Council meeting to express their concerns regarding proposed data centers in the capital city and to advocate for a new ordinance. Many were unable to enter due to capacity limits enforced by the Jackson Fire Department, prompting questions from attendees and Councilwoman Tina Clay. Speakers, including Dr. Erin Shirley Orey and resident Margaret Lawson, urged the council to prioritize environmental protections and to resist pressure from large corporations, citing potential negative impacts on property values and quality of life, similar to issues experienced in Southaven with an xAI data center.
The meeting followed the council's decision weeks earlier to table a proposed six-month moratorium on data centers, which Council President Brian Grizzell had introduced to allow time for zoning ordinance amendments. This decision was made on the advice of City Attorney Drew Martin. Concurrently, Saxum Investment Group's application to rezone 190, later expanded to 230, acres in West Jackson for a data center has been postponed multiple times by the company, most recently until new city zoning rules are in place.
Attorney Robert Ireland, representing Saxum, assured the council that economic development and citizen welfare are not mutually exclusive, suggesting the city can implement stringent site plan review standards for emissions, noise, water use, and utility impacts. He referenced Ridgeland's adoption of similar provisions and emphasized that emissions issues in Southaven are due to temporary power sources. Residents from Southaven also previously warned Jackson leaders against repeating their city's experience with xAI's data center, citing significant loss in property equity for nearby homeowners. The Jackson City Council took no action at the meeting.