NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – DC Blox, the company that intends to build a data center next to the Nashville Zoo, sent a press release to Metro Councilmembers on Tuesday describing positive “collaborative talks” with the Mayor’s Office. But according to the mayor, that claim was just “wishful thinking.”
Metro Nashville Councilwoman Delishia Porterfield said on Tuesday, ahead of city-held public hearings for data center legislation in Nashville, that councilmembers received the press release with a headline describing “productive discussions.”
The press release says that DC Blox leaders met with officials from the Nashville Zoo, Mayor Freddie O’Connell and city legal staff to discuss the potential data center. That center would be just feet away from the Nashville Zoo’s perimter and would consist of two data center buildings — one with a 10 megawatt capacity and another with a 40 megawatt capacity.
“The discussion was a collaborative discussion that covered environmental stewardship, animal wellbeing, and the neighboring community while supporting the growing digital infrastructure needs of Nashville,” the press release says. “Confirmation was provided that the proposed facility will not function as an AI data center and would not deploy any onsite power generation.”…