The Warren County Commission the latest local entity to pass a 12-month moratorium on data centers to allow officials time to research the potential impact of the facilities.
Economic and Agriculture Committee Chairman Brad Hillis said the committee heard from 12 residents regarding their feelings on the issue. Hillis said the committee recommended the moratorium to the full commission to limit the possibility of a data center until the county has time to get more information and get prepared.
“This moratorium is not a ban on AI data centers,” resident Lydia Jensen said. “It is a pause. It gives our county time to gather facts, review potential impacts, and determine whether our current ordinances, fire codes, infrastructure, and emergency response capabilities are sufficient for facilities that require significant amounts of electricity, water, and specialized safety planning.”
County Executive Terry Bell said the plan is to have the Policy and Personnel Committee work with building codes and the fire marshal to research appropriate levels of regulation. Bell said the county intends to seek a private act through the state legislature in January to establish permanent controls, similar to previous actions taken regarding adult entertainment and landfills.
“I think that our infrastructure couldn’t support a large AI center,” Commissioner Tommy Savage said. “I don’t even know that much about one, but I know that everybody uses AI every time you look up something on Google, every time you use a computer, there’s, it’s all going through AI somewhere. But I really think a structure like this should be in an industrial area, preferably in a bigger city where there’s ample electricity and there’s ample water supply.”
County Attorney Robert Bratcher said the moratorium is intended to cover specific industries that use extremely large, electricity-utilizing computer systems. Bratcher said these entities often create utility grid strains, water strains, heat generation, and noise generation.
“Passing this moratorium says that Warren County values planning, transparency, and responsible governance,” Jensen said. “It ensures residents, business owners, and first responders and local leaders all have a voice before decisions are made that could affect our community for generations.”
Bell said the moratorium is a proactive measure to protect residents and does not affect a proposed data center currently within the city limits. Bell said the county commission does not control electricity or water, as those utilities are governed by their own boards.
“The purpose of the moratorium is obviously to allow the county to have time to investigate these issues, and the, the blockade that it temporarily puts in place is gonna be over any kind of industry that has extremely heavy computing,” Bratcher said. “Generally, that’s gonna be your large megawatt cryptocurrency mining, AI data centers, and other type facilities.”
State Representative Paul Sherrill said other counties across Tennessee are facing similar situations. Sherrill said he will work with the county in 2027 to pursue a private act in Nashville to help protect Warren County.
The moratorium is scheduled to last for 12 months, though officials said it could be extended if more time is needed to complete the research.
