A campaign opposing the construction of a proposed AI data center in Nashville, Tennessee, has surged past 400,000 signatures following support from Grammy-winning country music star Brad Paisley.
The petition, which challenges plans for a 69,000-square-foot data center proposed to be built close to Nashville Zoo, gained momentum after Paisley urged his followers to take action in an Instagram Reel.
Calling the project “an absolute nightmare scenario,” Paisley warned of what he described as significant risks to the surrounding area and infrastructure. In his post, he said: “First of all, they don’t have the power to build this. They don’t have the water. It doesn’t belong there. It would be an enormous monstrosity, an absolute eyesore, and detract in every way from not only that zoo, but that area,” Paisley said in his video, which he posted collaboratively with the zoo last week.
The Nashville Zoo, which received 1.4 million visitors last year and is home to more than 3,700 animals across over 350 species, was described by Paisley as “one of the top zoos in the world.”
His intervention came just days after the zoo itself launched and promoted its own petition, which had already drawn significant traction online. Opposition to new data center projects has been gaining traction across the country in recent months, driven by concerns about environmental impact, noise, and broader health and infrastructure impacts.
The Petition
The Nashville Zoo has led much of the opposition to the project, warning the proposed development could have long-term consequences for wildlife and the surrounding community.
In its petition, the zoo outlined concerns about environmental impacts, infrastructure strain, and the lack of publicly available studies assessing potential harm.
In its petition, the zoo said: “AI Data Centers are being built at an alarming pace, posing possible risks to diverse and vulnerable communities. The next one could be located just feet away from one of the most fragile and rare collections of animals in the country unless Nashville Zoo supporters and city leaders intervene.”
The zoo also raised concerns about electricity and water consumption associated with data centers, saying they can strain local power grids and water systems and affect nearby environments. It said no independent studies have been shared to evaluate potential impacts.
“We cannot afford to find out years from now how this facility has negatively impacted our 1.4 million visitors, our local community, or the 3,000 animals entrusting us with their care. We are calling on the Nashville community to join us in our fight to stop this data center from being built, now,” the petition reads.
The Facility
The proposed facility is backed by DC BLOX, an Atlanta-based company that builds and operates data centers for what it describes as “hyperscalers, enterprises, communications providers, and technology companies.”
According to the company’s website, it currently has 23 data centers in operation and development and is aiming to expand its footprint across the U.S.
DC BLOX said it is engaging with local officials and Nashville Zoo leadership as opposition to the project grows. In a statement emailed to Newsweek, the company said it had “heard and appreciates the concerns” raised about the proposed facility and respected efforts by residents and officials to ensure nearby communities and zoo animals are protected.
The company said it would continue discussions with local stakeholders to better understand concerns and identify solutions that could lead to what it described as “a beneficial outcome.”
DC BLOX also pushed back against some of the criticism directed at the project, saying it has spent the past decade working to minimize environmental impacts and operate safely in the communities where it builds facilities. The company noted the proposed Nashville site is intended to serve as a cloud and communications facility, describing it as infrastructure needed to support growing regional internet traffic.
According to DC BLOX, the project would use closed-loop or waterless cooling systems to reduce water consumption, while the company would cover the cost of electricity used by the facility and any additional energy infrastructure required for the development. It also said it would comply with environmental regulations and take measures to control noise and lighting.
Opposition to Data Centers
According to Data Center Map, there are 4,346 data centers across the U.S., with 61 currently in Tennessee. Virginia has the most, with 601.
Recent months have seen growing local opposition to AI and cloud data center expansion, with protests and legal challenges emerging in multiple states. According to a March Gallup survey, seven in 10 Americans oppose constructing data centers for AI in their local area. That includes 48 percent who say they are strongly opposed. Only around a quarter of Americans favor such developments, with just 7 percent strongly in favor.
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