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Nashville Council Lets Mayor Block $700M Zoo Data Center

8/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

Nashville council approved a measure that lets Mayor Freddie O'Connell block a $700 million data center adjacent to the Nashville Zoo.
In the three months of 2026, opposition targeted 75 data center projects worth $130 billion.
More than 70% of Americans oppose data centers near homes, prompting 142 rallies in 42 states in July 2026.
Virginia’s State Corporation Commission ordered data centers to pay for transmission infrastructure to lower resident energy bills.

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Story summary

Nashville council approved a measure that lets Mayor Freddie O'Connell block a $700 million data center adjacent to the Nashville Zoo.
In the three months of 2026, opposition targeted 75 data center projects worth $130 billion.
More than 70% of Americans oppose data centers near homes, prompting 142 rallies in 42 states in July 2026.
Virginia’s State Corporation Commission ordered data centers to pay for transmission infrastructure to lower resident energy bills.