Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Knoxville TN
Who decides where data centers go near Knoxville — zoning and planning, the local elected board, the county, the state utility commission, and environmental permits — plus what is on file and reporting from across the HERE network.
Who Decides on Data Centers Near Knoxville
DATA CENTER: NEWS, INFORMATION & RESOURCE CENTER FOR KNOXVILLE
No local data-center vote or application is on file in HERE Knoxville's reporting yet. If a proposal arrives, these are the people and agencies that would decide it, and this section will track it every week.
A data center in or near Knoxville would first need local land-use approval through City of Knoxville, and Knox County weighs in on land outside city limits and on tax incentives. Power would come through Knoxville Utilities Board, which buys its electricity from the Tennessee Valley Authority, the federal agency that decides whether it can serve very large new loads. Air and water permits come from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
National context: Federal energy researchers estimate data centers used about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and could use 6.7% to 12% by 2028, which is why utility commissions, local boards, and voters are now central to where these campuses land. U.S. Department of Energy report
What’s on file near Knoxville
- Nothing on file yetNo local data-center vote, rezoning, or application is on file in HERE Knoxville's reporting yet. When one is filed, it will appear here first.
Who decides: zoning, councils, utility regulators & permits
Zoning & Planning
State Utility Regulator
Electric Utility
Environmental, Water & Air Permits
From across the HERE network
- From HERE NashvilleNov 2, 2026 · TN
Tennessee Data Centers Spread as Towns Push Back
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee now has somewhere between 60 and 65 data centers in operation, and a growing list of local governments wants to slow down…
- From HERE MemphisOct 20, 2026 · TN
Memphis City Council Set to Vote on Data Center Moratorium
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A one-year pause on new data centers in Memphis comes back before the City Council on Tuesday, two weeks after a heated meeting…
- From HERE MemphisOct 15, 2026 · TN
Memphis Council Delays Data Center Moratorium Vote Again
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A proposed one-year pause on new data centers in Memphis is still waiting on a final vote, after the City Council chose this…
- From HERE MemphisOct 13, 2026 · TN
Shelby County Advances Data Center Pause on First Vote
Memphis, Tenn. — Shelby County commissioners narrowly advanced a temporary pause on data centers in unincorporated areas Monday, passing a first reading even as some members…
- From HERE MemphisOct 9, 2026 · TN
Memphis, Tenn.: Council passes data center rules first reading
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis City Council members on Thursday passed two ordinances regulating data centers on first reading, advancing zoning changes while leaving a proposed temporary…
- From HERE MemphisOct 8, 2026 · TN
Memphis, Tenn., Council Resumes Data Center Moratorium Talks
The Memphis City Council in Memphis, Tenn., returns Thursday to the proposed data center moratorium, two days after a meeting on the ordinance broke down amid…
- From HERE NashvilleOct 19, 2026 · TN
Energy and Data Centers Divide Tennessee Governor Hopefuls
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Energy, the environment and the boom in power-hungry data centers have opened one of the clearest divides between the two major-party nominees for…
- From HERE MemphisOct 14, 2026 · TN
Taylor and Pearson Split on Crime, Data Centers in 9th District
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Energy prices, data centers and crime are at the center of the race for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, where two Memphis state lawmakers…
- From HERE RaleighNov 3, 2026 · NC
Raleigh Data Center Expansion Slips in Ahead of Moratorium
RALEIGH, N.C. — A planned data center expansion in west Raleigh will be reviewed under the city’s old rules because the application landed four days before…
Updated weekly. Last updated Nov 6, 2026.
Data Centers Near Knoxville: FAQ
Who approves a data center rezoning near Knoxville?
Rezonings and site plans go through local land-use officials: in Knoxville that is City of Knoxville, with Knox County handling land outside city limits and county tax incentives. Planning commissions hold public hearings and recommend; the elected board casts the final vote.
Who approves the power supply for a data center near Knoxville?
Local power companies in the Tennessee Valley buy electricity from the Tennessee Valley Authority, which decides whether it can serve very large new loads. The Tennessee Public Utility Commission regulates investor-owned utilities in the state.
Which Tennessee agency issues environmental permits for a data center?
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issues the air, water, and wastewater permits a large facility needs, including permits for backup generators.
How can a Knoxville resident weigh in on a data center?
Speak or submit written comments at planning commission and council or board meetings, where agendas are posted in advance, and file public comments in utility cases at the state commission. The official links on this page go straight to those bodies.
Is a data center proposed in Knoxville?
No local data-center vote or application is on file in HERE Knoxville's reporting yet. This page is updated weekly, and any proposal will appear here first.
Data Center Coverage Across HERE
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