Data center company’s statement of ‘collaborative talks’ with Nashville leaders was ‘inaccurate, wishful thinking,’ mayor says
DC Blox claimed positive talks with Nashville leaders about its proposed data center next to the Nashville Zoo, but Mayor O'Connell and the Zoo's CEO denied these claims, calling them 'wishful thinking.' The city plans to acquire the land, and the Metro Council is holding public hearings on legislation for data center zoning restrictions and a temporary moratorium.
DC BLOX, a data center company, recently issued a press release claiming "collaborative talks" with Nashville leaders regarding its proposed data center adjacent to the Nashville Zoo. The company detailed several "contractually binding commitments" aimed at addressing community concerns, including limiting sound to 65 decibels, funding an acoustic impact study, equipping backup generators with advanced emission controls, and fully funding power infrastructure upgrades. They also offered a potential reduction in the project's scope and scale.
However, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Nashville Zoo President and CEO Rick Schwartz strongly refuted DC BLOX's claims, with the Mayor's office calling the statement "inaccurate, wishful thinking" and an attempt to disrupt upcoming Council votes. Mayor O'Connell stated that the meeting he convened was due to three parties being interested in the property, and Metro Nashville intends to acquire the land. Schwartz echoed the Mayor's sentiments, asserting that despite DC BLOX's proposed solutions, the location is "the worst" for a data center due to its proximity to animals and that there is no compromise. He also noted that DC BLOX does not yet have permits or ownership of the property.
The Metro Nashville Council is currently holding public hearings on two pieces of data center legislation: a comprehensive zoning bill (BL2026-1391) that would impose significant restrictions on data center construction in Davidson County, and a bill (BL2026-1448) proposing a temporary moratorium on new data centers. Both bills are undergoing their second of three readings. City leaders implemented a ticketed queuing system for public input, anticipating an estimated eight hours of commentary from at least 245 ticket holders.