Fisk University data center plan sparks debate in Nashville
Fisk University's plan to build a 30-megawatt data center on its North Nashville campus is facing significant community opposition from residents and alumni concerned about environmental impacts, utility strain, and a lack of transparency. In response to growing data center development, a Metro Councilmember has introduced a zoning bill to regulate such facilities in Nashville. The university is proceeding with plans, aiming to secure power access.
Fisk University announced a $900 million master plan in May that includes a 30-megawatt data center on its historic North Nashville campus. Proponents from the university, including project manager Don Hardin, assert that the facility is vital for its future and will be developed responsibly, incorporating measures like closed-loop cooling to minimize water consumption and assurances from Nashville Electric Service that it will not overburden the local power grid.
However, the project faces strong opposition from North Nashville residents and Fisk alumni. Kaylynn Mourning, a local resident, is circulating a petition, expressing skepticism about the environmental impacts, potential increases in electric bills, water contamination, and noise pollution, while criticizing Fisk for insufficient community input. Alumnus Winston Wright likens the development to past predatory projects in the historically Black neighborhood and questions the transparency regarding potential commercial partners, mentioning an alumna with ties to Equinix, despite university denials of Equinix's operational involvement.
In response to broader concerns about data center proliferation in Nashville, Metro Councilmember Rollin Horton has introduced a new zoning bill. This legislation, expected to be heard soon and potentially passed in August, would classify data centers by size, requiring a special exception for facilities like Fisk's (20-100 MW) and prohibiting larger ones, while also mandating closed-loop cooling systems. The bill aims to establish regulations for an industry currently unregulated in the city.