Rhea County commissioners consider two‑year study moratorium on data centers and crypto mining

At a Rhea County commission workshop on July 14, sponsor Jacob Fellas presented a proposed two‑year moratorium on large data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities that he said is intended to give the county time to study potential impacts before adopting permanent rules. "It's to give a county commission time to carefully study the potential impact of large scale data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities," Fellas said, adding the proposal "isn't a ban on data centers" but directs the planning commission to examine utilities, noise, power consumption, water consumption and environmental impact.

Industry representative John Pijat, who introduced himself as a local business owner and technologist, urged the commission to define data centers carefully and consider size thresholds instead of a blanket prohibition. "Maybe even when you're deciding on the final decision for the moratorium rather than blanketing everything, maybe consider size or other things," Pijat said, explaining that a small 20‑megawatt facility differs dramatically from a hyperscaler and that design advances can reduce water use in newer facilities.

During public comment Joe Page urged the commission to pause and revise the draft, arguing it could empower broad regulatory actions under local nuisance or police‑power provisions. "This is this is absolute assault on private property rights," Page said, urging the commission to seek state legislative solutions rather than adopt sweeping local authority. Commissioners did not adopt the moratorium at the workshop; the item was placed on a future regular meeting agenda for formal consideration and further study.