Data center fights move from Tennessee zoning boards into governor’s race

Tennessee’s growing debate over data centers is moving from local zoning boards into the governor’s race, as communities across the state weigh temporary pauses on new projects and at least one candidate calls for statewide action.

Dr. Lauren Pinkston, an independent candidate for Tennessee governor, announced June 18 that she supports a statewide moratorium on new data center construction until Tennessee adopts enforceable standards for the industry.

Her campaign said the proposed pause should remain in place until the Legislature establishes requirements for water use, minimum distances from schools and public institutions, local government and community input before permitting, and studies on grid capacity and ratepayer impacts.

The announcement comes as several Tennessee communities have considered or approved local restrictions on data centers amid concerns about power demand, water use, noise, land use, zoning and public transparency.

In Warren County, McMinnville officials approved an 18-month moratorium on data center permitting. Coffee County also approved a one-year moratorium. Nashville officials have moved forward with a temporary moratorium proposal while residents and local institutions have raised concerns about proposed projects near the Nashville Zoo and Fisk University.

The local actions reflect a broader policy question facing Tennessee: how to balance demand for digital infrastructure with local control, utility capacity, environmental concerns and economic development.

Data centers are facilities that house computer servers, networking equipment and related infrastructure used to store, process and transmit digital information. Demand for them has grown with cloud computing, artificial intelligence, streaming services, online commerce and other digital systems.

Supporters of data center development often point to infrastructure investment, property tax revenue, construction activity and the need for modern digital capacity. Critics have raised concerns about electricity demand, water use, noise, emergency backup power, land conversion, proximity to neighborhoods and public institutions, and whether local governments have enough time or technical information to evaluate projects before permits are issued.

Pinkston’s campaign framed the issue as one of local control and resource protection.

“Local communities should not have to fight these battles county by county while the state stands on the sidelines,” the campaign said in its release.

Pinkston’s campaign also connected data center development to a broader technology platform it calls “Big Tech and Data Infrastructure.” The platform includes a proposed Tennessee Data Ownership Act, which the campaign says would require companies that profit from Tennesseans’ personal data to share revenue with residents.

That proposal moves the issue beyond land use and infrastructure into data privacy and technology policy. The campaign argues that companies collect and profit from personal data generated by Tennesseans and that residents should have property rights tied to that data.

The release also said Pinkston supports protections against artificial intelligence deepfakes and measures intended to protect Tennessee artists from unlicensed AI use of their work.

Other candidates and public officials have also begun addressing data center concerns.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican candidate for governor, has questioned the proposed data center near the Nashville Zoo while saying data centers are an important part of Tennessee’s economic growth if they are placed thoughtfully. Local officials in Nashville have also pursued zoning changes and temporary restrictions aimed at regulating data center development.

The issue is still developing, and several questions remain unresolved.

It is not yet clear whether Tennessee lawmakers will pursue statewide data center standards, whether local moratoriums will lead to permanent zoning changes, or how state officials would define which data centers fall under any new rules. Project impacts may also vary by size, location, cooling system, power source and proximity to homes, schools, public institutions or sensitive sites.

The debate is likely to continue as local governments study pending proposals and as candidates for governor face questions about state authority, local control, property rights, utility capacity and Tennessee’s role in the growing digital economy.

For now, local governments are acting first.

The question moving into the 2026 governor’s race is whether Tennessee will continue handling data center growth community by community, or whether state officials will create a broader framework for where and how the facilities can be built.

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