By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning, Lookout readers:
Data centers have become all the rage in Tennessee, and we literally mean rage.
As of July, 60 data centers were operational with another 10 to 15 on tap, and we’ve yet to find anyone — other than the operators of the centers — enthusiastic about them. From Memphis, where residents have been fighting Elon Musk’s massive xAI, to McMinnville to Nashville, where officials jumped into action to halt a Nashville Zoo-adjacent one, the fight is on.
The centers produce a number of environmental and health concerns, but that’s not all.
Rep. Aftyn Behn, a Nashville Democrat, is raising cain about tax breaks the state is giving to data centers — and beyond that, the lack of transparency about which companies are getting the handouts.
Spokespeople for both the Tennessee Department of Revenue and the Department of Economic and Community Development, the latter of which gives data centers “Fast Track” grants to aid with public infrastructure (insert raised eyebrow emoji here), said they can’t comment because of taxpayer confidentiality laws.
Hey, companies are the same as individuals, right?
In other news:
Baiting for a debate. Memphis Councilmember Jerri Green, the Democratic nominee for governor, formerly issued a request to U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican nominee, to a series of four debates in all three Grand Divisions, including one in Brentwood — Blackburn’s home.
Blackburn has refused to debate in her last two elections, including her 2024 Senate reelection race against Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson and in the August GOP gubernatorial primary against U.S. Rep. John Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritts.
Independent gubernatorial candidate David Hatley is continuing his campaign swing across the state, holding events in Clarksville, Lebanon, Columbia, Franklin and Murfreesboro this week.
Is it Marvel or is it reality? A group called Nashville Guardians of Democracy, which legitimately sounds like a Marvel superhero group, has launched in advance of the November election. The group, led by Lisa Quigley, longtime chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, and attorney Tricia Herzfeld, formerly a member of the Davidson County Election Commission, will train average Joes and Janes to serve as poll watchers to protect against voter intimidation. (Which maybe is an actual superhero move.) Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell is supporting the group through a political action committee.
THE LOOKOUT’S TOP STORY
Rep. Aftyn Behn is calling for a halt on state tax breaks for data centers. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Sam Stockard
Rep. Aftyn Behn said Tuesday she will file legislation for the 2027 session to freeze state tax breaks for data centers along with adding requirements for the Tennessee Department of Revenue to report the amount of money the state is losing.
NEWS AND NOTES
Trump doesn’t have the power to limit mail-in voting, lawmakers tell US Supreme Court | Jacob Fischler, States Newsroom
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
Tennessee is one of five states in the running for a nuclear power campus. The state has a history of nuclear power research and production, including by three Tennessee Valley Authority nuclear facilities. One of those, Brown’s Ferry, is pictured here. (Photo: Tennessee Valley Authority)
by Adam Friedman
Tennessee lawmakers want to lead the nation in nuclear energy and snag the economic development dollars that come with it. One expert says the state is one of few “that has all the pieces of the nuclear supply chain already in place.”
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
John Cole’s Tennessee:
John Cole’s Tennessee: Bird of prey. City and county officials and residents are pushing back on the use of Flock Safety technology, citing privacy concerns.
ICYMI
COMMENTARY
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