McMinnville approves 18-month moratorium on new data centers, creating requirements for numerous impact studies
McMinnville, Tennessee officials have enacted an 18-month moratorium on new data centers due to concerns about environmental impact, water supply, and energy usage. This decision follows plans for a 96,000-square-foot data center in the city, which spurred an online petition against the project.
McMinnville, Tennessee, officials enacted an 18-month moratorium on new data center applications on Wednesday. The decision comes after plans for a 96,000-square-foot, 25-megawatt data center, known as the Hixson Data Center, were announced for the rural town, sparking considerable local concern.
Residents and leaders expressed worries about the project's potential environmental impacts, particularly on water supply and energy usage. An online petition opposing the development garnered nearly 3,000 signatures, with organizers advocating for a 12-month moratorium to allow for comprehensive impact studies.
The approved 18-month moratorium immediately halts the acceptance, processing, and approval of all land use, zoning, building, site plan, and conditional use permits for data centers and high-density computing systems. Additionally, any future facilities will be required to undergo multiple impact studies covering infrastructure, environment, sound, and utilities. The moratorium could be extended if deemed necessary.