The Knox County Commission unanimously passed a resolution on Monday stating data centers will not be able to connect to the electric grid.
If data centers want to use on-site power generation sources such as solar, wind, fossil fuels, or nuclear power, they will need to obtain separate zoning approval.
These are not the only zoning regulations the resolution imposes on county data centers, which are defined as “building or buildings which are occupied primarily by computers and/or telecommunications and related equipment where digital information is processed, transferred and/or stored, primarily to and from offsite locations.”
If developers want to open a large data center in Knox County, they must obtain county officials’ approval.
Regarding data center locations, the resolution states they must be at least 300 feet from residential zones, schools, churches, parks, nursing homes, daycares, dorms, campgrounds, and community centers.
On top of this, data centers will need a landscape buffer 100 feet wide, including evergreen, shade, and flowering trees, and shrubs. The buffer is an attempt to hide the facilities and reduce visual impact and noise.
To make sure data centers aren’t too loud, the resolution imposes noise ordinances on them.
During the daytime, data centers must not exceed a 67-decibel noise limit, and at night, they must not exceed a 57-decibel noise limit.
Data centers will need to conduct acoustic studies and follow-up testing to ensure noise levels comply with regulatory limits.
Regarding water, the resolution prevents data centers from using public water supplies. They must have their own independent water sourcing. The resolution also requires developers to conduct extensive groundwater studies and to provide proof that the data center will not affect nearby wells or waterways.
For water withdrawals over 100,000 gallons per day over a 30-day average from any source of the Tennessee River Basin or consumptive water use of more than 20,000 gallons per day from any water source, will require approval from the Tennessee Valley Authority, the resolution says.
Pertaining to architectural design, data centers that face the road or homes will need to resemble a design in the art deco, neoclassical, or Greek revival style, the resolution says, adding that the county can reject design plans if they appear superficial.
The resolution takes effect on Saturday.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at zschmidt1717@gmail.com.
Photo “Data Center” by chaddavis.photography. CC BY 2.0.
