The record by year
On the record as of October 27, 2026.
An act sits on the day it happened: the day its own sentence names, or the day its source gives for it. An act the record knows only from the date of the article that reported it sits under that article's month, one tap away, marked Reported with the article's date. So do background, plans and statements, which are not acts. The same act reported by several sources is one line with the reports behind it, on its day where any of them dates it. The milestones alone, for every state, are on the timeline.
21 acts on the line for Tennessee, from 66 dated lines in the records' histories and the scorecard. 19 more acts are dated only by the article that reported them and sit under their month. 3 lines report an act already listed. 23 lines are background, plans or statements. 6 lines sit on a date other than the one they were filed under, because their own sentence names the day, the month or the year it happened; each says so. Where a line sits is read from its own words and the row is never changed (how dates are read).
2026 18 acts on the line from 20 reports; 18 reported, dated only by the article; 23 lines of background, plans and statements
October 2026 9 acts on the line from 11 reports; 1 reported
Memphis City Council passed a substitute ordinance halting data center permits and construction for 135 days while the city develops comprehensive zoning and environmental regulations.
cbsnews.com (opens in a new tab), primary source
1 more report of this
- Oct 20 Memphis city council rejected a one year data center moratorium on Tuesday and passed a substitute ordinance halting construction for 135 days cbsnews.com (opens in a new tab)
Memphis City Council voted down a proposed 12 month temporary moratorium on data center permits (Agenda Item 19) sponsored by Councilmembers JB Smiley Jr., Jerri Green, Swearengen Washington, and Michalyn Easter Thomas.
cbsnews.com (opens in a new tab), primary source
1 more report of this
- Oct 21 Memphis city council voted against a data center moratorium proposal. wvlt.tv (opens in a new tab)
Memphis City Council postponed final action on competing data center regulatory measures, including Ordinance 5986 (large scale data center standards prohibiting evaporative cooling and protecting the Memphis Sand Aquifer) and Ordinance 5985 (digital infrastructure development districts).
cbsnews.com (opens in a new tab), primary source
U.S. District Court issued a temporary restraining order enjoining the Memphis City Council from enforcing bans against community activists attending public council meetings ahead of the data center vote.
dailymemphian.com (opens in a new tab), primary source
Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved Resolution 44-2026 enacting a six month moratorium on data center and industrial computing facilities through April 12, 2027.
dailymemphian.com (opens in a new tab), primary source
Mayor Paul Young signed an executive order launching a 90 day data center policy review with appointed experts on land use, air quality, Memphis Sand Aquifer protection, utility costs, and noise without a permitting pause.
dailymemphian.com (opens in a new tab), primary source
Montgomery County Commission discussed zoning regulations requiring data center properties to be a minimum of 10 acres and no larger than 100 acres.
clarksvillenow.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Memphis City Council voted 7-5 to postpone a vote on a proposed data center moratorium
businessinsider.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet
U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson dismissed DC BLOX's nine claims against Metro Nashville's data center permitting moratorium, noting a perceived raw deal does not make a federal case, while granting 21 days until October 27, 2026 to replead three claims.
the901report.com (opens in a new tab), trade press
Reported in October 2026, dated only by the article that carried it: 1 act
Memphis Mayor Paul Young issued an executive order to establish a 90 day study period on impacts of data center development
cbsnews.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
September 2026 4 acts on the line; 12 reported; 20 lines of background, plans and statements
Project River proposal includes construction of two biomass plants to power a possible data center, robotics or semiconductor manufacturing facility
clevelandbanner.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
Wilson County data center committee passed resolution on September 15, 2026 working out final details of zoning ordinance
mainstreetmediatn.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Gallatin City Council advanced six month moratorium on new data center applications on first reading September 15
yahoo.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted not to approve Ordinance 26-08 restricting data centers to C4 commercial zones on first reading
mainstreetmediatn.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Reported in September 2026, dated only by the article that carried them: 12 acts
Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission approved zoning update requiring public hearing for future data centers with one commissioner voting against
clarksvillenow.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
Memphis imposed data center moratorium while SpaceXAI continues expansion in Mississippi less than a mile away
dailymemphian.com (opens in a new tab), news outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
Berm height requirement of 40 percent of building height with state approved vegetation
mainstreetmediatn.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
Setback regulations adopted in response to community concerns
local3news.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
SpaceXAI agreed to timeline for removal of turbines with Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, all turbines to be removed by July 2027.
independent.co.uk (opens in a new tab), international outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
City of Cleveland announced it is drafting a planned unit development ordinance for Project River on 850 acre site on Lower River Road
clevelandbanner.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
Wright Brothers Construction accepted City of Cleveland's proposed ordinance for Project River
clevelandbanner.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
Residents filed a lawsuit challenging the noise pollution from the data center
ctpublic.org (opens in a new tab), local outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
Elon Musk announced the xAI campus could expand to 10 times its current capacity
ctpublic.org (opens in a new tab), local outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
House Bill 1847 passed by Tennessee General Assembly and signed by Governor Bill Lee requiring data centers using more than 50 megawatts of power to pay their own electricity costs
thecentersquare.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
Nashville Davidson Metro placed temporary moratorium on data center development after D.C. Blox announced facility near Nashville Zoo
thecentersquare.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
D.C. Blox filed lawsuit against Nashville Davidson Metro claiming officials refusing to process permits in targeted attack violating federal constitutional protections
thecentersquare.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
Also on the record for September 2026, not acts of their own: 20 lines of background, plans and statements
Data center sites must be minimum 10 acres but not greater than 100 acres
clarksvillenow.com (opens in a new tab) (a description, not an act)
Data centers must not exceed 3 decibels over ambient noise or 55 decibels at property lines
clarksvillenow.com (opens in a new tab) (a description, not an act)
Maximum noise level set at 40 dBA and 60 dBC
mainstreetmediatn.com (opens in a new tab) (no act in the sentence)
Data centers must respond to city within 48 hours from notice of noise or vibration violation
mainstreetmediatn.com (opens in a new tab) (a description, not an act)
Wilson County moratorium expires December 22, 2026; Rutherford County set one year moratorium
mainstreetmediatn.com (opens in a new tab) (no act in the sentence)
An east Tennessee family asked Cleveland officials to delay action on Project River data center
blackchronicle.com (opens in a new tab) (a statement; who said what is on the statements pages)
Operations at Colossus II came online in January 2026.
independent.co.uk (opens in a new tab) (no act in the sentence)
Vicent died in Florida in February, months after the fall.
independent.co.uk (opens in a new tab) (no act in the sentence)
Worker Alexis Vicent fell from a mezzanine at Colossus II in August 2025.
independent.co.uk (opens in a new tab) (no act in the sentence)
City requiring nine studies to be performed before project gets final approval
clevelandbanner.com (opens in a new tab) (a description, not an act)
Project River site is 850 acres with plans for biomass plants, fire station, EMS facility, and police precinct
clevelandbanner.com (opens in a new tab) (a description, not an act)
xAI promised to replace the gas turbines in one year with quieter permanent ones as of July 2026
ctpublic.org (opens in a new tab) (a statement; who said what is on the statements pages)
Original proposal called for 12 month moratorium, amended to six months
yahoo.com (opens in a new tab) (a statement; who said what is on the statements pages)
Meta Gallatin data center began serving global internet traffic in November 2024
yahoo.com (opens in a new tab) (a description, not an act)
Cities across Tennessee have passed data center regulations and moratoriums
wsmv.com (opens in a new tab) (a description, not an act)
Nashville state Rep. Aftyn Behn plans to file legislation to pause tax breaks for data centers in next legislative session
wsmv.com (opens in a new tab) (a plan or a schedule, not an act yet)
Tennessee State Rep. Aftyn Behn plans to file a bill for the 2027 legislative session proposing a three year pause on new data center tax exemption certificates
local3news.com (opens in a new tab) (a plan or a schedule, not an act yet)
The proposal requires Tennessee Department of Revenue to report annual total cost of data center exemptions, identify facilities, and provide compliance information
local3news.com (opens in a new tab) (a description, not an act)
Three Memphis City Council members J.B. Smiley Jr., Yolanda Cooper Sutton, and Jana Swearengen Washington proposing 12 month moratorium on data center development
thecentersquare.com (opens in a new tab) (a plan or a schedule, not an act yet)
xAI required government officials to sign NDAs during development of the Colossus facility near Memphis, Tennessee
newsweek.com (opens in a new tab) (no act in the sentence)
August 2026 2 acts on the line; 4 reported; 2 lines of background, plans and statements
TVA Board approved over 100 megawatts of firm power for SpaceXAI Memphis operations.
yahoo.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
Lawsuit filed in August 2026 seeks $30 million in damages, $20 million of which is punitive.
independent.co.uk (opens in a new tab), international outlet (the month its own sentence names; no day is given; filed under Sep 18, 2026)
Reported in August 2026, dated only by the article that carried them: 4 acts
TVA Board approved rate structure separating data centers from traditional manufacturing
yellowhammernews.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
TVA signed Trump administration Ratepayer Protection Pledge requiring data centers to cover infrastructure costs
yellowhammernews.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
TVA Board of Directors approves rate increase for data centers
yahoo.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
1 more report of this
- Reported August 20 Tennessee Valley Authority Board approved new rate structure for data centers. yahoo.com (opens in a new tab)
Memphis City Council proposed a temporary moratorium on new data center development
radionwtn.com (opens in a new tab), news outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
Also on the record for August 2026, not acts of their own: 2 lines of background, plans and statements
Data centers in the Tennessee Valley will soon pay more for electricity
fox13memphis.com (opens in a new tab) (a plan or a schedule, not an act yet)
Memphis City Council ordinance for temporary moratorium on data center permits passed first reading on August 18.
yahoo.com (opens in a new tab) (a description, not an act)
July 2026 No acts on the line; 1 reported
Reported in July 2026, dated only by the article that carried it: 1 act
Nashville data center restrictions advanced after a record setting council meeting
wsmv.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
May 2026 1 act on the line; 1 line of background, plans and statements
Tierpoint Nashville Data Center is an operating data center
cleanview.co (opens in a new tab), news outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
Also on the record for May 2026, not acts of their own: 1 line of background, plans and statements
HyscaleIX Nashville Carrier Hotel is an operating data center
cleanview.co (opens in a new tab) (a description, not an act)
April 2026 2 acts on the line
Bradley County commissioners voted 14-0 on April 20 to restrict data centers to I-2 Special Impact Industrial District with 3,000 foot setback from homes, schools, churches
newschannel9.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
New setback rules passed in April 2026 effectively block viable development, according to SDCL
local3news.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet (the month its own sentence names; no day is given; filed under Sep 21, 2026)
2025 0 acts on the line; 1 reported, dated only by the article
March 2025 No acts on the line; 1 reported
Reported in March 2025, dated only by the article that carried it: 1 act
Nashville Metro Council voted 27 to 5 on August 4 to authorize acquisition of a 23.49 acre DC BLOX Nashville Campus site.
baxtel.com (opens in a new tab), news outlet (dated only by the report that carried it, so under the month of the report)
2024 2 acts on the line
2024, no month given 2 acts
xAI's hyperscale data center in Memphis opened in 2024
wsmv.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet (the year its own sentence names; filed under Sep 11, 2026)
Colossus I opened in 2024.
independent.co.uk (opens in a new tab), international outlet (the year its own sentence names; filed under Sep 18, 2026)
2020 1 act on the line
2020, no month given 1 act
Meta broke ground on Gallatin campus in 2020 and pledged more than $1.5 billion investment
yahoo.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet (the year its own sentence names; filed under Sep 16, 2026)