Memphis City Council to consider temporary ban on data center development

Memphis City Council will consider a temporary ban on data center development in Memphis at its next meeting. According to the agenda for the Aug. 18 meeting, the Council will consider an ordinance during its executive session that would pause data center development, "declaring a temporary moratori

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Memphis City Council will consider a temporary ban on data center development in Memphis at its next meeting.

According to the agenda for the Aug. 18 meeting, the Council will consider an ordinance during its executive session that would pause data center development, "declaring a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing, approval, and issuance of zoning, land use, building, and other associated infrastructure permits for data center developments within the City of Memphis."

The agenda item is sponsored by Councilmembers J.B. Smiley and Jana Swearengen-Washington.

SpaceXAI's Colossus 1 data center at 3231 Paul R. Lowry Road in Memphis is photographed on April 23, 2026.

In July, City Council discussed potential zoning ordinance changes to the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development codes to address data centers.

On Aug.

4, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said the company plans to add up to 20 gigawatts of power to meet the energy needs of SpaceXAI data centers by 2027.

The company's data center development in Memphis has received national attention.

Jack Armstrong covers breaking news and the environment for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at jack.armstrong@commercialappeal.com and followed on X @jca2902.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis City Council to consider temporary ban on data center development