Dresden advances proposed data center regulations
Dresden’s Planning Commission recommended zoning regulations that would control where data centers could be built, require setbacks from homes, limit noise, and protect city taxpayers from related costs. The proposal will go to the Dresden City Commission for a vote, while residents have raised environmental and community concerns about potential future development.
Dresden’s Planning Commission voted to recommend an ordinance regulating potential data center development in the Tennessee city. The proposed rules would restrict eligible locations, establish distance requirements from homes, cap noise at 60 decibels at the nearest property line, and require developers to cover associated municipal expenses. The Dresden City Commission is scheduled to consider the ordinance in December.
Planning Commission Chairman Tommy Moore said Dresden currently has no data center regulations and that the ordinance would provide safeguards for taxpayers. Residents, including local farmer Jessica Ward, expressed concern about possible environmental and community impacts. The Tennessee Valley Authority said it has created a separate electricity rate for data centers, including additional charges intended to prevent other customers from bearing the facilities’ service costs.