‘The public sees who did it’: Council tables ordinance putting moratorium on data centers
The Jackson City Council tabled a proposed 183-day moratorium on data center construction due to procedural concerns regarding it being classified as a zoning ordinance. Council members debated whether the measure was a policy or zoning action, requiring different approval processes including a public hearing. The moratorium aimed to give the city time to develop data center policies amid concerns over infrastructure strain, noise, and electricity costs for residents.
The Jackson City Council voted 4-2 to table a proposed 183-day moratorium on data center development, following a debate over whether the measure should be considered a zoning ordinance. Councilwoman LaShia Brown-Thomas and Councilman Kevin Parkinson led the motion to table, citing the need to follow proper legal procedures for zoning matters, which require public hearings and specific advertising periods.
Council President Brian Grizzell, who drafted the moratorium, expressed frustration after the vote, emphasizing his concerns about the impact of data centers on the city's infrastructure and residents, particularly in Black neighborhoods. The proposed moratorium aimed to temporarily ban construction, expansion, permitting, and site plan approval for data centers exceeding five megawatts of electrical load, allowing the city to develop comprehensive data center policies.
Attorney Robert Ireland of Watkins and Eager urged the council to reject the moratorium, warning that it would signal Jackson is not open for data center business and could deter potential investors. He highlighted the economic benefits, citing projects in nearby Clinton and Madison County, and assured that the industry uses advanced closed-loop cooling systems. However, Dr. Erin Shirley Orey countered, arguing that data centers lead to increased energy bills for consumers, water contamination, noise pollution, and substantial tax breaks for wealthy tech companies, urging the council to protect residents.
Southaven residents Jason Haley and Shannon Samsa also spoke, sharing negative experiences with the xAI data center in their city, citing excessive noise from turbines and a lack of public input. They urged the Jackson council to enact the moratorium to prevent similar issues, emphasizing that promised protections had failed in their community.