Centerville discusses restricting Data Centers amid infrastructure concerns

The Centerville Municipal Regional Planning Commission has unanimously recommended a 12-month moratorium on the establishment of data centers in Centerville, Tennessee. The decision, made on July 21, was prompted by concerns that the town's existing water and electrical infrastructure cannot support the high demands of data center facilities. This recommendation, modeled after a similar action in Shelbyville, will be forwarded to the Centerville Board of Mayor and Aldermen for a vote at their August 11 meeting.

Centerville Planning and Zoning official Josie Petersen noted that there are currently no data centers in Centerville or Hickman County, nor are any proposed. However, the commission, led by chair Rob Mitchell and Mayor Garry Greer, is proactively addressing potential future developments. Mitchell's research indicated that while Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative might be able to serve a data center within town limits, the broader county grid is not strong enough. Mayor Greer also emphasized that the county's water system would require 'millions and millions of dollars' in expansion to support such facilities, potentially necessitating a relocation of the town's water intake from Swan Creek to the Duck River.

The planning commission also agreed to send aldermen a Shelbyville ordinance that zones data centers as I-3, or heavy industry, properties, acknowledging that state law requires some designated location for them. This ordinance would need majority approval on two readings, likely in August and September. The proposed moratorium also calls for a year-long study of data centers and the development of specific regulations.