I’ve grown up in East Tennessee my entire life, and my community means the world to me. I cherish the rolling hills, lush landscapes, and close-knit neighborhoods that define our small cities. This is not just a collection of towns and communities; it’s our home, our sanctuary. 

However, recently, the peace and prosperity we enjoy has been threatened by plans to add data centers in our area. While technology and development are important, the proposed addition of data centers comes with a cost far too steep for our community to pay.

Firstly, such developments would significantly increase the cost of living. Data centers require immense amounts of electricity, possibly driving up rates for everyday residents. Our electricity budgets, already stretched thin by current economic challenges, simply cannot sustain this added cost to our hard-working residents.  

Additionally, the installation and operation of data centers drain the local watershed, endangering our precious natural resources and affecting our environment. The lush greenery that our area is famous for is at risk if this expansion goes unchecked. Our wildlife, already under pressure from encroaching urbanization, faces new threats as essential water resources are redirected to sustain data centers.

Furthermore, these centers have the potential to stifle new business initiatives. With large corporations monopolizing critical infrastructure and resources, smaller, local businesses and potential newcomers face increased difficulty prospering. Our community thrives on small businesses and local commerce; these new data centers will create roadblocks to their success, ultimately impacting local jobs and economic diversification.

We must look at the long-term development of East Tennessee and ask ourselves: Is this what we want for our future? It's not too late to take a stand. Let’s advocate for sustainable growth that respects our traditions and supports our communities.

Please join me in stopping this expansion of data centers in East Tennessee - our lives as we know it, our community as we know it, depend on our voices coming together.  Let's protect the environment, preserve our local economy, and maintain our quality of life. Say NO to data centers in Tennessee.

Sign this petition to let our voices be heard together - we are the only thing protecting it.