Metro Council to consider data center moratorium
2:25 p.m. March 13, 2026
DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor
A proposed ordinance set for consideration by the Metro Council on Monday would temporarily halt new approvals for data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations, and similar high-impact computing facilities in Moore County while local officials develop rules to regulate them.
The measure would establish a two-year moratorium on the construction and expansion of those facilities across Moore County. The pause is intended to give officials time to determine whether current zoning, land-use, and development rules are sufficient to address the demands those projects can place on utilities, nearby property owners, and the broader community.
What the Moratorium Would Do
If approved, the moratorium would take effect April 20, 2026, and remain in place through April 19, 2028, unless the Metro Council votes to lift it sooner or extend it as allowed under Tennessee law.
During that period, Moore County would stop accepting and processing new applications tied to those projects.
That would include special use permits, conditional use permits, zoning map amendments, subdivision plats, and building permits, except for interior renovations that do not expand a facility’s capacity or change its exterior appearance. The pause would also apply to any other approvals needed to build, expand, or modify a data center, cryptocurrency mining facility, or similar high-impact computing operation.
Why Officials Say it is Needed
The ordinance cites what it describes as an unprecedented increase in this kind of development and says those projects can create demands not fully addressed by the county’s current regulations.
Among the concerns listed are heavy energy use and added strain on utility infrastructure, noise from cooling systems and backup generators, large water demands for cooling, environmental issues involving hazardous material storage and electronic waste, and land-use compatibility questions in rural and agricultural areas.
The proposal says the county needs time to craft standards for those projects and ensure any future regulations align with Moore County’s long-term land-use goals.
What Would Happen During the Pause
Under the proposal, county staff would study the potential effects of those projects on energy use, water demand, noise, and land use in coordination with local utility providers.
Staff would also prepare draft ordinance changes and performance standards for future consideration. Those could include rules governing where such facilities may be located, along with standards for setbacks, noise, and utility-capacity needs.
The proposal also calls for public workshops and Planning Commission meetings to gather community input before the Planning Commission sends a recommendation to the Metro Council. The Council would then hold the required public hearings before taking final action on any long-term regulations.
The ordinance includes a severability clause, meaning that if one section were later struck down in court, the rest of the measure would remain in effect.
The Metro Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 16, at the American Legion Building, 119 Booneville Hwy.
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