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Knox County commissioners debate sending data‑center zoning language to planning commission
Summary
Commissioners debated a proposed resolution by Commissioner Fox to ask the planning commission to vet draft zoning language aimed at large data centers; debate centered on a 10‑megawatt local threshold tied to energy/water impacts, state law that defines 'data center' at a higher threshold, and concerns about land, noise and obsolescence.
Commissioner Fox on May 11 proposed sending draft zoning language for data centers to the planning commission for review, arguing the county needs a local floor tied to resource impacts. "I did put in a... floor for the circumstances under which this would apply, and it's for data centers that have a capacity of 10 megawatts or more," Fox said, describing the measure as focused on protecting residents' quality of life, water and electricity supplies.
Opponents urged caution about narrowly tailored regulation and whether local rules would be overtaken by technological change. Commissioner Jay said, "By the time you pass this ordinance, whatever you think of a data center will be obsolete," and urged the…
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