Knoxville City Council to discuss proposal for one-year pause on data centers
Knoxville City Council is set to discuss and vote on an emergency ordinance for a one-year moratorium on large data centers requiring 10 megawatts or more of power. This proposal aims to allow city staff to recommend ordinance changes, as data centers are not adequately defined in the current zoning code. The move follows similar moratoriums recently approved in Knox County and Loudon County.
Knoxville City Council is scheduled to discuss and potentially vote on an emergency ordinance Tuesday evening that would enact a one-year moratorium on the permitting, construction, or development of large data centers within city limits. The proposed pause would apply to facilities requiring 10 megawatts or more of power.
According to the council's agenda, the city's current zoning code does not specifically define data centers, leaving key parameters such as size, location, and noise regulation unaddressed. The City of Knoxville stated that the moratorium would allow staff to recommend ordinance changes to proactively protect the community from potential negative impacts on neighborhoods, resources, utilities, and environmental sustainability.
This local initiative follows similar actions in other East Tennessee localities, with the Knox County Commission having approved a one-year pause last month and Loudon County enacting a six-month pause on data center developments.