Despite pushback and questions regarding the need for a proposed data center moratorium in unincorporated areas outside of city limits, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted to advance the ordinance for a second reading.
The vote came after several commissioners expressed concerns and challenges with permitting a moratorium when there are no current plans to use the unincorporated areas for data centers.
The commission voted 5-4, with four commissioners abstaining.
Supporters of the moratorium explained how data centers were negatively affecting the health and well-being of Memphians in surrounding neighborhoods, as well as how the depletion of natural resources would eventually hurt Memphis as a whole.
Advocates spoke for their loved ones and members of the community who were unable to make their voices heard at Monday’s meeting.
Hayden Wakefield spoke on behalf of her grandmother and others living in Whitehaven and Boxtown who are impacted by data centers.
“The low-income area of Memphis is already at a devastating image,” Wakefield said. “Data centers emit nitrogen oxides, which are harmful air pollutants and add to the existing cancer risks in the area.”
She asked commissioners to pass the temporary moratorium to better the health and safety of residents in an already undervalued part of the city.
Jasmine Bernard, a high school senior, spoke on behalf of the 901 Youth Action Network to emphasize the importance of protecting citizens’ health, air, water, and zoning.
“You can establish guardrails,” Bernard said. “Over the last 800 days, we’ve heard the stories from our friends, our families, and our neighbors about worsening asthma, more hospital visits, and more days missed [from] school. That’s just with two data centers.”
Bernard urged the commission to be on the “right side of history” with their decision.
Although some commissioners understood the concerns of Shelby County residents, there was pushback on whether a moratorium would be necessary, especially when thinking of potential economic growth. Commissioners also questioned whether data centers were solely to blame for pollution in neighborhoods.
Commissioner Amber Huett-Garcia proposed an alternative ordinance for the October 21st committee meeting, which would focus on establishing regulations, rather than having a temporary moratorium.
“I think we have to create strong policy, protect people,” she said. “I think the moratorium alone is not getting at what the public is telling us, but we have to root it in reality. When we talk about data centers, they’re not [in the] top 25 polluters.”
Commissioner Henri E. Brooks recommended zoning and strict regulations regarding data centers. “We must establish uniform strict regulations before the concrete is poured, not after it’s dried,” she said. Brooks championed community input, for families living in unincorporated areas to have a “transparent democratic process.” The vice-chair also asked for “independent expert advice.”
Several commissioners didn’t understand the need for a moratorium, especially in an unincorporated area. Commissioner Erika Sugarmon interjected and said the county needed to act proactively and put regulations in place.
Commissioner Mark Billingsley described wanting to protect Memphians, but expressed the economic boom data centers would bring.
“Putting a prohibition and a moratorium on this before we have all the facts is incredibly premature,” Billingsley said. “We’re telling this industry — which is incredibly new— to stop.”
