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Commission debate on proposed data-center zoning pits technology growth against resource and neighborhood concerns
Summary
Commissioners debated a Fox-sponsored resolution asking planning to craft zoning for large data centers, with back-and-forth about a 10-megawatt threshold, state law, energy and water impacts, and whether technology will soon make such rules obsolete.
A proposed resolution to refer data-center zoning rules to the planning commission prompted extended debate at the Knox County agenda-review meeting on May 11.
Commissioner Fox said the resolution would target large, resource-intensive data centers and suggested the county focus on a capacity threshold to distinguish ordinary IT facilities from "hyper-scale" centers. "I wanted to draw a line between what is reasonable data storage capacity... and one that's being used at the hyper scale," Fox said, proposing 10 megawatts as a floor for when special rules should apply.
Opponents urged caution. Commissioner Jay…
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