Judge questions Jackson officials on Lake Hico data center discussions
U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate questioned Jackson officials regarding discussions about a potential data center at Lake Hico, a historically significant site. This follows the Jackson City Council's approval of Mississippi's first six-month moratorium on new data centers, during which the city plans to develop new regulations for noise, water, and energy use. City officials emphasized that discussions are premature and no proposals have been received for the Lake Hico site.
U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate held a status conference on Monday, questioning Jackson officials about reports concerning a potential data center development at Lake Hico. Judge Wingate emphasized the need for any plans to consider improvements to the city's water and sewer systems. Jackson Mayor John Horhn testified that discussions regarding the 16th Section land, owned by Jackson Public Schools and recently leased by a developer, are still premature. The developer intends to explore various options over the next three years, including residential and industrial uses.
The judge's inquiry comes just days after the Jackson City Council approved Mississippi's first six-month moratorium on new data centers, slated to begin in August. Mayor Horhn indicated that during this period, the city would be developing new regulations to address common concerns associated with data centers, such as noise, water usage, and energy consumption.
Lake Hico holds historical significance as a former recreation site and was previously used by Entergy as a cooling pond before being drained in 2020. Jackson City Attorney Drew Martin confirmed that the city has not received any proposals or applications for a data center at the site. He also stated that JXN Water, the third-party manager of the city's water and sewer systems, would be consulted on the new data center regulations.