Morristown City Council votes tomorrow on data centers

    Morristown City Council will hold a public hearing and final vote on an ordinance concerning data centers. Please come to the City Council meeting tomorrow (10/20) at the City Center (100 W 1st North). The meeting is at 5:00 with the workshop meeting at 4:00.  Public comments will be heard at both meetings.

     This is the second reading of an ordinance that they have admitted is flawed and will need to be tweaked later. Unfortunately, until it is corrected, it will allow data centers into our City with very weak regulations. No noise, water or electric grid restrictions, and only 500 feet from schools and residences.

     Why not do it right the first time. We need a temporary halt on all data center permits until it has been thoroughly studied for high electricity and water usage, grid strain, and environmental impact. We need a strong, enforceable ordinance before the applications for data center permits go to the planning office.

     Knoxville, Nashville, Millington, Johnson City, Bristol, Crossville, Smithville and Jonesborough have enacted permit moratoriums. The counties of Hamblen, Washington, Roane, Knox, Morgan, Loudon, Cumberland, and Anderson all have moratoriums in effect. Numerous other cities and counties have proposals that are pending.  The governor of Texas enacted a state-wide halt on data center permits. A moratorium is not a ban. It is a responsible time-out to carefully study the issues.

     Please take the time to attend the meeting or contact a council member at MyMorristown.gov about your concerns. This is not just a city concern. Data centers will affect all of Hamblen County.