Roane County commission amends proposed moratorium on data centers to two years after public concern

Roane County commissioners on July 26 amended a resolution asking the regional planning commission to recommend a temporary moratorium on the acceptance and approval of applications for data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations and battery energy storage systems, extending the pause from 180 days to two years.

The amendment followed more than an hour of public comment in which residents raised concerns about heavy water and electricity use, potential strains on local infrastructure, noise and perceived health risks. Karen Ryan told commissioners she worried data centers would “invade our drinking water” and urged the county to “just say no.” Janice Walsh, who said she represented Rome for Liberty, urged elected officials to consider a formal resolution to keep such companies out of the county.

Commissioner Doug (first name not specified in the transcript) moved to amend the moratorium length to two years; the body recorded the amendment by voice vote. Supporters said the extended pause would allow the county to conduct planning and education, coordinate with the Tennessee Valley Authority on rate classifications, and better understand environmental and public-safety implications. Several commissioners framed the moratorium as a temporary, precautionary measure while land-use planning, zoning and infrastructure studies proceed.

Speakers at the meeting also urged federal coordination for projects on federal land and requested environmental-impact study information when projects may involve Department of Energy or NNSA property. Planning staff and the county executive said no specific application had been filed with Roane County at the time of the meeting.

The resolution as discussed asks the Roane County Regional Planning Commission for a recommendation on a temporary moratorium; the transcript records the amendment to two years but does not include an explicit roll-call tally or a final recorded vote on the resolution’s ultimate adoption in the supplied excerpt. Commissioners said they will schedule workshops and additional public education as part of a broader land-use planning effort that begins in August.

The commission’s action reflects mounting local concern over large-scale computing facilities’ effects on water, energy and emergency services. Officials said the pause is intended to provide time to gather facts, coordinate with state and regional authorities and consider zoning and rate-classification implications.