Nashville Metro Council Advances Data Center Zoning, Moratorium Bills Amid Public Opposition
The Metro Nashville Council advanced three bills to regulate data center development, including new zoning rules and a temporary moratorium, following extensive public hearings with significant opposition. Mayor Freddie O’Connell also introduced legislation to condemn land near the Nashville Zoo where DC Blox plans to build a facility. These actions reflect an intense local interest in controlling data center proliferation.
More than 100 Nashvillians voiced opposition to data center development during a marathon Metro Council public hearing. Two bills, BL2026-1391 and BL2026-1392, sponsored by Councilmember Rollin Horton and others, aim to establish zoning rules for data centers, including a ban on the largest facilities and buffer zones near sensitive sites. A third bill, BL2026-1448, sponsored by Councilmember Courtney Johnston, proposes a temporary moratorium on new data center permits until zoning regulations are established.
All three bills passed their second of three required votes and are scheduled for further consideration and potential amendments at the July 21 Metro Council meeting. Mayor Freddie O’Connell, who supports the zoning and moratorium bills, also filed legislation to begin the process of condemning property adjacent to the Nashville Zoo, where DC Blox plans a data center. The Mayor stated this move is in Metro's interest to acquire the land.
The public hearings attracted 178 speakers, many raising concerns about sound, emissions, and strain on the power grid. While general support for regulations was evident, some urged stronger requirements. The Mayor and zoo leadership disputed a statement from DC Blox regarding collaborative talks, with both calling the company's characterization inaccurate. Winston Wright, an opponent of the Fisk University data center project, noted disparities in community protection, suggesting animals received more concern than North Nashville residents, though the Mayor reiterated support for Fisk's project, differentiating it from DC Blox's proposed facility.