LOCAL NEWS | By Tabitha Evans Moore | Editor & Publisher
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — Members of the Moore County Planning Committee voted Tuesday night to formally recommend an AI data center moratorium to the Metro Council, opening a broader policy conversation about whether large-scale, parcel-dedicated data facilities align with the county’s long-term interests.
The discussion came amid growing national scrutiny of artificial intelligence infrastructure, which committee members noted can require immense power and water resources while generating relatively few permanent local jobs. Several members expressed concern that Moore County’s recent renewable energy investments – including solar and renewable gas projects – could make the area attractive to outside data center developers.
Committee members referenced reports of large AI installations elsewhere, including facilities requiring round-the-clock power, significant water consumption for cooling, and creating noise and air quality concerns. While construction phases may provide short-term employment, members noted that staffing for completed data centers is often limited to a small number of engineers. I see absolutely no benefits for Moore County and nothing but drawbacks.
“There are huge drawbacks,” Jim Crawford stated. “There’s a huge power demand, huge water demand, the air pollution, the noise pollution, and there’s as far as jobs go there are very few jobs that go along with it it’s mostly a few engineers. I see absolutely no benefits for Moore County and nothing but drawbacks.”
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At the same time, the committee was careful to distinguish between large, stand-alone data centers and the routine IT infrastructure already used by schools, manufacturers, and local industries. Members emphasized that the intent is not to ban technology, but rather to pause approval of developments where the primary use of an entire parcel would be data collection or AI processing.
Discussion also touched on the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), where federal officials have reportedly considered leasing land to private firms for AI-related facilities. Committee members raised concerns about how such operations could affect regional power demand, particularly during extreme weather conditions.
Following discussion, the committee conducted a roll call vote signaling support for sending a moratorium recommendation to Metro Council. All five members present — Chair Dexter Golden, Jim Crawford, Jeff Ross, Scott Fruehauf, and Bobby Carroll –voted in favor. Jimmy Hammond and Angelica Lightfoot were absent from the meeting.
Members acknowledged that final authority rests with the Council and that precise definitions and legal language will need further refinement before any ordinance is considered.
Committee leadership said the goal is to proactively establish guardrails before applications arrive, rather than react after commitments are made. The issue is expected to be forwarded to Metro Council for broader public discussion in the coming weeks.
The Metro Council will meet again on Monday, January 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Building. •
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