Two petitions emerge opposing Fisk University's proposed data center

Fisk University's plan to build a 30-megawatt data center in North Nashville is generating considerable debate, with both alumni and local residents voicing strong opposition. The university is promoting the project as a "quantum leap into the future" and part of an ambitious billion-dollar master plan to strengthen the institution's financial future and expand opportunities for students.

However, community members, including North Nashville resident Kayn Morning and 2017 alumnus Winston Wright, express significant worries. Morning, a mother of two living near campus, fears noise pollution and the potential health impacts on residents and nearby zoo animals, noting a perceived lack of testing on these effects. Wright launched an online petition, which has garnered over 2,000 signatures, citing embarrassment that a historically Black institution would pursue what he calls "harmful infrastructure" in a Black community.

In response, Fisk University officials have stated that the data center will occupy approximately five acres on the south end of campus and will adhere to Nashville Electric Service's (NES) policies, ensuring it will not raise energy costs for neighbors. They also emphasized working with development partners to implement innovative technologies to limit water and energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote greater sustainability. Despite these assurances, critics like Morning remain unconvinced, arguing that an "eco-friendly data center" is not truly possible given its reliance on NES's power, which she deems not eco-friendly, and its substantial energy demand, equivalent to powering over 20,000 homes annually. The university's master plan, including the data center, is expected to unfold over the next decade or more, even as community calls for reconsideration persist.