A Memphis City Council meeting descended into chaos Tuesday night after lawmakers postponed a vote on a proposed yearlong moratorium on new data centers, as protesters chanted inside City Hall, police cleared the chamber and a fight broke out in the lobby.
The proposal comes as Elon Musk’s SpaceXAI operates its massive Colossus supercomputer facilities in the Memphis area, where some residents have raised concerns about data centers’ use of power and water, along with their effects on air quality, noise and nearby neighborhoods.
The council voted 7-5 to delay the moratorium vote until Oct. 20.
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After the vote was postponed, protesters chanted, “This is our city,” and, “Show me what democracy looks like,” as police moved to clear people from the chamber.
A fight between two women also broke out in the lobby, with video showing punches being thrown, according to Action News 5. A Memphis Police Department spokesperson told the outlet that no one was detained or injured. It was unclear what sparked the fight or whether it was connected to the council meeting.
Council members also clashed during the meeting.
Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton exchanged words with protesters before turning her criticism toward Councilman J.B. Smiley Jr., the lead sponsor of the moratorium proposal, according to the outlet.
“That’s all he does; he brings up mess,” Cooper-Sutton said of Smiley. “That’s all you do, J.B. Smiley, confuse the people over, over, over and over!”
Smiley had pushed the council to hold the final vote Tuesday, arguing that residents had shown up expecting a decision.
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Seven council members voted to postpone the measure, while five opposed the delay. Councilman Edmund Ford Sr. was absent, according to Action News 5.
The proposed ordinance would pause new data center projects for 12 months while the city studies their effects on health and Memphis’ power, water and other infrastructure.
Musk’s SpaceXAI has established a major computing operation in the Memphis area with its Colossus facilities, raising concerns from some residents about air pollution, noise and the amount of electricity and water needed to run large data centers.
Councilman Jeff Warren, who opposes the moratorium, warned that a year-long pause could push companies to build outside Memphis.
“If we pass a moratorium, there’s no reason for them to think they need to come here,” Warren said, according to WREG. “They get the same benefit from going to DeSoto County, Crittenden County, Fayette County, Tipton County.”
Memphis Mayor Paul Young has called for more rules governing data centers while also pointing to the tax revenue they generate.
Young said the city should address their water and electricity use, air quality, noise and where the facilities can be built.
“We need to keep the pressure high and make sure that we get the guardrails in place that we need for our community to feel protected,” Young told WREG. “There’s a role for all of our agencies to play in ensuring we put the proper guardrails in place. The thing that I want to make sure is that we do it expeditiously.”
Smiley said council members should have done more to listen to residents who attended the meeting.
“When the community shows up, we just have to listen to them,” he said, according to Action News 5. “I’m disappointed that we didn’t listen with ears, okay, I hear you, I understand. Let’s figure out how we can do what you want, but also what we believe would be in the best interest of the community.”
