Knox Co. Zoning Commission approves recommendation of one-year moratorium on data centers

What This Story Is About

• The Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission’s Zoning Committee voted to recommend a one-year moratorium on building large data centers within Knoxville city limits.

Why It Matters

• The pause allows local officials to study the community impact of data centers and update zoning laws before any large-scale developments are permitted.

What Happens Next

• The recommendation goes to the Knox County Commission for a final vote. If approved, the moratorium will last until June 30, 2027, or until new regulations are adopted.

Catch Up

• Other East Tennessee counties have recently paused or restricted similar developments including Anderson, Cocke, Loudon Morgan and Blount County.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - During a Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, the Zoning Commission voted to approve a recommendation for a one-year delay on data centers in Knoxville.

During that time, construction of large data centers within city limits would not be permitted.

One-year moratorium

Knox County Commission first voted to approve the one-year moratorium back in June. Commissioners said the delay will allow Knox County to consider all effects of data centers in the area and what it can mean for the community.

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon then called for a similar moratorium to allow Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission to update zoning for data centers.

The Zoning Committee then discussed the matter on Aug. 13, and voted to recommend that Knox County Commission approve the moratorium.

The recommendation now goes back to Knox County Commission for a final vote. If approved, the moratorium would be in place through June 30, 2027, or “until the Knox County Commission adopts new regulations governing the placement and operation of data centers.”

Other efforts to delay data centers

Knox County isn’t the only one trying to delay data centers.

Cocke County also put a one-year moratorium in place June 1 on any lithium battery storage facilities in the county to give leaders time to figure out zoning and to give emergency management, and first responders time to put together an emergency operations plan.

Loudon County approved a six-month pause on June 30, including county permits, zoning approvals, building approvals, utility extensions and development agreements.

Anderson County put a two-year pause in place June 15, with Commissioner Sabra Beauchamp saying she believes the two-year moratorium will give the community time to do more research and answer more questions.

Morgan County approved a resolution June 12 to put a two-year pause on data centers, citing concerns over the lack of zoning ordinances and development safety standards and the amount of electrical energy and water resources needed for cooling, which “can strain local infrastructure, jeopardize grid stability, and alter surrounding microclimates.”

Blount County approved a resolution June 18 putting regulations in place for data centers and cryptocurrency mining, including only allowing data centers in the industrial zone; putting a 5,000-foot buffer between the centers and homes, schools and churches; limiting the noise emitted at the property line to 60 decibels; requiring certificates proving the electricity and water utilities can be provided from local providers without increasing rates for others; and requiring provisions for soil and air quality protection.