Nashville Zoo Dispute Over Proposed Data Center Escalates
A Nashville Zoo is challenging permits for a proposed data center located nearby, citing potential harm to wildlife. A petition against the project has gained over 330,000 signatures, with celebrity support. Metro Nashville officials are considering new zoning laws that could ban or restrict future data centers.
Key points
- Nashville Zoo's land use attorney has filed a zoning appeal against permits granted to developer DC BLOX for a data center 50 yards away.
- An opposition petition has surpassed 330,000 signatures, attracting support from figures like country star Brad Paisley.
- The proposed 69,220 sq ft facility would draw an estimated 50 MW, and the zoo argues noise and light could disturb vulnerable species.
- Metro Nashville's Planning Commission will review legislation for new data center zoning rules, potentially banning facilities over 500,000 sq ft and requiring buffer zones for smaller ones.
- A public hearing is scheduled for June 11th, 2024, concerning the proposed zoning changes.
A contentious dispute between the Nashville Zoo and a proposed data center development has intensified, prompting significant public backlash and potential regulatory action. The zoo is actively opposing DC BLOX's plans for a new facility situated just 50 yards from its grounds, escalating the situation by filing a zoning appeal against previously approved permits.
The opposition has garnered substantial momentum, evidenced by a petition exceeding 330,000 signatures. Public figures, including Grammy-winning artist Brad Paisley, have voiced strong objections. The zoo's primary concerns revolve around the potential negative impact of the data center's noise and light emissions on its vulnerable animal populations, including clouded leopards. The proposed 69,220-square-foot facility is also expected to draw an estimated 50 megawatts from the local power grid.
In response to the growing controversy, Metro Nashville officials are considering new zoning legislation aimed at regulating data center construction. A public hearing is scheduled for June 11th, 2024, to discuss a bill that could ban data centers larger than 500,000 square feet county-wide and mandate a minimum half-mile distance from residential areas, schools, and zoos for smaller facilities. The proposed rules would also require data centers to implement closed-loop cooling systems.
Sources
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