Shelby County advances data-centre pause amid aquifer concerns
Shelby County Water System, Alabama · Meeting date: October 12, 2026 · Published: October 13, 2026
A proposed moratorium of up to 12 months on data-centre-related permits moved to a second reading, despite no data-centre permits or projects currently being identified in unincorporated Shelby County. Commissioners split over whether a pause is needed to develop water, power and zoning safeguards or whether regulations should be drafted without a moratorium.
Key points
- The first-reading ordinance would pause acceptance, processing, approval and issuance of zoning, land-use, building and associated infrastructure permits for data-centre developments for up to 12 months.
- The vote was recorded as five in favour, four opposed and four abstentions; the item proceeds to a second reading.
- Vice Chair Brooks called for independent hydrologists and energy experts to assess cumulative effects on the Memphis aquifer and power grid before development proceeds.
- A commissioner said an alternative ordinance planned for the October 21 committee meeting would mirror city rules on electricity demand, noise, closed-loop systems and water consumption.
- The county attorney said a moratorium based on zoning authority would need to meet strict procedural requirements, including potential Land Use Control Board approval.
Full report
Shelby County commissioners have moved a temporary moratorium on data-centre permits to a second reading, opening a policy debate over whether the county should first pause development in unincorporated areas while it establishes protections for the Memphis aquifer.
The first-reading ordinance would impose a moratorium of no more than 12 months on the acceptance, processing, approval and issuance of zoning, land-use, building and other associated infrastructure permits for data-centre developments. The measure is intended to coordinate with a City of Memphis moratorium.
The commission recorded five votes in favour, four against and four abstentions. The item will now return for a second reading.
Water use was a central concern in public comment and in the commission debate. Jasmine Bernard of the 901 Youth Action Network told commissioners that existing data centres were taking a reported 800,000 gallons per day from the aquifer as of February. She urged the county to use the pause to establish guardrails around water, air and zoning. Her comments represented an advocacy position presented to the commission.
Vice Chair Brooks said the county had a window to act before facilities were built in unincorporated areas. “A 12-month pause is not a refusal of technology,” she said. “It is a commitment to responsible governance.” She called for independent hydrologists and energy experts to assess the cumulative effect of large facilities on the power grid and the Memphis aquifer, rather than relying on company projections.
Commissioner Hewitt-Garcia said she would introduce an alternative ordinance at the October 21 committee meeting. The proposal would mirror the City of Memphis approach in areas including electricity demand, noise, closed-loop systems and water consumption. She said the regulatory measure could work alongside a temporary pause, but questioned whether the current ordinance accurately reflected the county’s authority.
County Attorney’s Office representative Craig Barnes told commissioners that a moratorium founded on zoning powers would be subject to strict state-law procedures. He said it could require approval by the Land Use Control Board before commission approval, while stressing that he was not declaring the proposal illegal.
Opponents of the pause noted that there are currently no data centres in unincorporated Shelby County, no permits pending and no identified plans for one. They supported development of rigorous standards, but argued that a moratorium was premature. Supporters countered that regulations on water use and other impacts must be in place before any project reaches the permitting stage.
This summary was generated by AI based on the source document and may contain errors.
Source: County Commission, Shelby County Water System