Nashville weighs data center moratorium as DC Blox faces zoo opposition, 391,000 signatures

A proposed 24-acre data center from DC Blox, sited directly northwest of the Nashville Zoo, could be blocked by a moratorium under consideration by the Nashville Metropolitan Council Office. The developer is seeking a demolition permit for two existing structures at 648 Grassmere Park to make way for a 69,220-square-foot campus.

The project plans call for two buildings totaling 50 megawatts of capacity, with one structure providing 40 MW and the other 10 MW. An approximately 72,000-square-foot substation is also part of the design, according to permit filings reviewed by local officials.

Zoo leads opposition, petition tops 391,000 signatures

The Nashville Zoo has publicly opposed the facility and filed a zoning appeal seeking to overturn already-approved permits. A petition launched by the zoo warns that AI data centers are being built at an alarming pace and pose risks to vulnerable communities. It has collected more than 391,000 signatures as of this week. Country singer Brad Paisley also voiced opposition, calling the proposed facility an enormous monstrosity and an absolute eyesore in an Instagram reel.

• The zoo serves 1.4 million visitors annually and houses 3,000 animals
• Opponents cite concerns about electricity consumption, water use, and strain on power grids
• The petition argues that data center impacts on the local watershed and environment are unknown
• DC Blox says the facility is a cloud and communications center, not a large AI factory

DC Blox responds with design promises, but council holds final say

DC Blox has pushed back on the characterization of the project. A company spokesperson told Data Center Dynamics that the facility is designed to handle increasing regional internet traffic and needs to be close to the people it serves. The developer committed to a closed-loop or waterless cooling system, paying for any new energy infrastructure, testing and managing noise to local standards, and shielding light fixtures. The company also said it would follow all federal and local environmental regulations.

The Nashville Metropolitan Council Office has not yet set a vote date for the proposed moratorium. If enacted, it would halt new data center permits for a set period, giving the council time to review zoning rules and environmental impact requirements. The zoo's zoning appeal will move through the local administrative process in parallel.