Jackson City Council considers limits on data centers amid state boom

The Jackson City Council is poised to consider a temporary moratorium on new data center development and simultaneously establish a regulatory framework for future projects. The proposed ordinance, introduced by Ward 4 Councilman and Council President Brian Grizzell, is listed on the council's Tuesday, April 21 agenda, with a potential vote two weeks following its introduction. This consideration by Jackson authorities follows a significant surge in data center projects across Mississippi, with at least seven major developments announced statewide in the last two years. Notable investments include xAI's over $20 billion data center project in Southaven, Amazon's $3 billion campus in Warren County, and Compass Datacenters' $10 billion, eight-building campus under construction in Meridian. The rapid expansion has not been without controversy, sparking concerns among residents. In Southaven, citizens and advocates have actively raised objections about potential noise, air pollution, and health impacts linked to a data center power facility, with many speaking out during a recent state permitting process. Jackson's proposed measures are an attempt to pre-empt similar issues within the city.