Source: FOX News
Summary
A Memphis City Council meeting turned chaotic as lawmakers postponed a vote on a yearlong moratorium on new data centers. Protesters chanted inside City Hall, police cleared the chamber, and a fight broke out in the lobby. The proposal, which would pause new data center projects for 12 months, was delayed until Oct. 20. Council members argued over the issue, with some calling for more community input. Residents have raised concerns about data centers’ impact on power, water, and air quality. Elon Musk’s SpaceXAI operates Colossus supercomputer facilities in the area.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Council members argued over data centers in a crowded room.
Protesters chanted, police moved in, and a fight broke out.
Councilwoman criticized the lead sponsor of the moratorium.
Elon Musk’s data centers loom over the debate like a shadow.
Author: Evan Null
Memphis City Council Meeting Chaos
The Memphis City Council meeting turned chaotic as lawmakers postponed a vote on a proposed yearlong moratorium on new data centers. Protesters chanted inside City Hall, police cleared the chamber, and a fight broke out in the lobby. The proposal comes as Elon Musk’s SpaceXAI operates its massive Colossus supercomputer facilities in the Memphis area, where some residents have raised concerns about data centers’ use of power and water, along with their effects on air quality, noise, and nearby neighborhoods.
Vote Postponed Until October
The council voted 7-5 to delay the moratorium vote until Oct. 20. After the vote was postponed, protesters chanted, “This is our city,” and, “Show me what democracy looks like,” as police moved to clear people from the chamber. A fight between two women also broke out in the lobby, with video showing punches being thrown, according to Action News 5. A Memphis Police Department spokesperson told the outlet that no one was detained or injured.
Council Members Clash
Council members also clashed during the meeting. Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton exchanged words with protesters before turning her criticism toward Councilman J.B. Smiley Jr., the lead sponsor of the moratorium proposal. “That’s all he does; he brings up mess,” Cooper-Sutton said of Smiley. “That’s all you do, J.B. Smiley, confuse the people over, over, over and over!” Smiley had pushed the council to hold the final vote Tuesday, arguing that residents had shown up expecting a decision.
Data Centers and Community Concerns
The proposed ordinance would pause new data center projects for 12 months while the city studies their effects on health and Memphis’ power, water, and other infrastructure. Musk’s SpaceXAI has established a major computing operation in the Memphis area with its Colossus facilities, raising concerns from some residents about air pollution, noise, and the amount of electricity and water needed to run large data centers. Councilman Jeff Warren, who opposes the moratorium, warned that a year-long pause could push companies to build outside Memphis.
Mayor Calls for Regulation
Memphis Mayor Paul Young has called for more rules governing data centers while also pointing to the tax revenue they generate. Young said the city should address their water and electricity use, air quality, noise, and where the facilities can be built. “We need to keep the pressure high and make sure that we get the guardrails in place that we need for our community to feel protected,” Young told WREG. “There’s a role for all of our agencies to play in ensuring we put the proper guardrails in place. The thing that I want to make sure is that we do it expeditiously.”
