CEDAR HILL, Tenn. (WZTV) — A Facebook post from Cedar Hill Mayor John Edwards is fueling a broader debate over whether Tennessee communities should embrace the rapid growth of data centers or hit pause until more regulations are in place.

Edwards recently proposed a two-year moratorium on new data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities in Cedar Hill, citing concerns about electricity demand, water use, air quality and the long-term impacts these large developments could have on rural communities.

While there are currently no known data center proposals in Cedar Hill, Edwards said the issue caught his attention after learning about a large project planned just across the Tennessee-Kentucky line in Franklin, Kentucky.

“It made me realize, oh, this is at our back door,” Edwards told FOX 17 News.

The mayor said he began researching data centers after hearing concerns from residents and reading about projects being proposed across the country.

“We need to get on top of this issue and figure out what we can do to protect the folks of Robertson County,” Edwards said.

Why the concern?

Data centers are physical facilities that store, process, and distribute enormous amounts of digital information. They power everything from social media platforms and cloud storage to streaming services and artificial intelligence programs.

As demand for AI continues to grow, so does demand for data centers.

According to Data Center Map, Tennessee is home to more than 60 data centers, with more than a third located in the greater Nashville area. Nashville alone has dozens of operational or planned facilities, while Gallatin has become home to one of the largest data center campuses in the region.

Meta’s Gallatin campus spans roughly 900 acres and uses approximately 300 megawatts of power, enough electricity to power roughly 200,000 homes.

Edwards worries that projects of that scale could place significant strain on local infrastructure.

“The electricity just massive gobblers of electricity,” he said.

He also points to concerns over water consumption and air quality. In Memphis, environmental groups have challenged portions of Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer operation, arguing some power-generation equipment violated federal clean-air requirements.

Edwards said local governments should have time to study those impacts before approving similar developments.

“I don’t think that they fit specifically in Robertson County and definitely not in my community,” he said.

Industry says concerns are real, but some are outdated

Not everyone agrees that a moratorium is the answer.

Kirk Offel, founder and CEO of Overwatch Mission Critical, a company involved in data center development, said many of the concerns communities raise are legitimate but often based on older versions of the technology.

“The concerns about energy are valid. The concerns of water and the concerns of jobs are all valid, but they’re all outdated,” Offel said.

Kirk Offel, founder and CEO of Overwatch Mission Critical (Fox 17 News)

Offel argues modern data centers are increasingly being designed with closed-loop cooling systems that require little to no water. He also said developers are beginning to build power infrastructure alongside projects rather than relying solely on existing electrical grids.

He believes communities should focus on creating standards and regulations rather than trying to block projects entirely.

“Get your policymakers to figure out how to write rules and regulate,” Offel said.

Offel compared the growth of data centers to the development of highways and other transformational infrastructure projects, arguing that communities that reject them could miss out on future investment and job creation.

“Every city right now should be scrambling to find a way to put data centers in their city,” he said.

The fight over growth

The debate unfolding in Cedar Hill mirrors conversations happening across the country as local leaders weigh the economic benefits of data centers against concerns about energy use, environmental impacts and quality of life.

Critics argue large facilities can consume significant amounts of electricity and water while creating relatively few long-term jobs compared to their footprint.

Supporters counter that newer facilities are becoming more efficient and can generate tax revenue, construction jobs and future economic development.

Edwards said he is not necessarily opposed to future regulations that could make data centers safer or more sustainable. However, he believes local communities deserve more time to understand the potential impacts before welcoming large-scale projects.

Offel said he would encourage local leaders to work with developers rather than shutting the door completely.

“I wouldn’t stop him. I would just force him to meet you halfway,” Offel said, referring to Edwards’ concerns.

What’s next?

Edwards said he plans to bring his proposed moratorium before Cedar Hill leaders next month.

As artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital storage continue expanding, both supporters and critics agree on one thing: the conversation about data centers in Tennessee is only beginning.

The Tennessee Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 24, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Cash 3 numbers from May 24 drawing

Evening: 4-2-7, Wild: 2

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from May 24 drawing

Evening: 2-0-4-1, Wild: 3

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Tennessee Jackpot numbers from May 24 drawing

14-25-26-32-38

Check Daily Tennessee Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 24 drawing

01-30-31-46-55, Bonus: 02

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Tennessee Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Tennessee Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket, a copy of a government-issued ID and proof of social security number to P.O. Box 290636, Nashville, TN 37229. Prize claims less than $600 do not require a claim form. Please include contact information on prizes claimed by mail in the event we need to contact you.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID and proof of social security number to any of these locations:

Nashville Headquarters & Claim Center: 26 Century Blvd., Nashville, TN 37214, 615-254-4946 in the (615) and (629) area, 901-466-4946 in the (901) area, 865-512-4946 in the (865) area, 423-939-7529 in the (423) area or 1-877-786-7529 (all other areas in Tennessee). Outside Tennessee, dial 615-254-4946. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Knoxville District Office: Cedar Springs Shopping Center, 9298 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922, (865) 251-1900. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Chattanooga District Office: 2020 Gunbarrel Rd., Suite 106, Chattanooga, TN 37421, (423) 308-3610. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Memphis District Office: Chiles Plaza, 7424 U.S. Highway 64, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133, (901) 322-8520. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://tnlottery.com/.

When are the Tennessee Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
• Cash 3, 4: Daily at 9:28 a.m. (Morning) and 12:28 p.m. CT (Midday), except for Sunday. Evening game daily, seven days a week, at 6:28 p.m. CT.
• Daily Tennessee Jackpot: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
• Tennessee Cash: 10:34 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
• Powerball Double Play: 10:30 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
• Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Tennessean editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Tennessee baseball is a day away from learning its draw for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Vols are squarely in the field of 64 but will not host this season meaning the tournament committee will send Tennessee on the road.

There’s still a few remaining conference championship games on Sunday afternoon, but both D1Baseball and Baseball America have released their penultimate bracket projections for the NCAA Tournament. Where do the Vols project to land?

D1Baseball projects Tennessee as a two-seed (No. 24 overall seed) in the Hattiesburg Regional where they are matched up with No. 9 overall seed Southern Miss, NC State and Illinois-Chicago. The Vols have plenty of postseason history against Southern Miss. They defeated the Golden Eagles in the 2023 Hattiesburg Super Regional and in the 2024 Knoxville Regional.

If the Vols pull the upset in the Hattiesburg Regional they would match up against the winner of the Gainesville Regional including Florida, Arizona State, USC Upstate and VCU.

Twelve SEC teams are in the D1Baseball projection including Arkansas, Georgia, Ole Miss, Auburn, Mississippi State, Texas, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.

Baseball America projects Tennessee as a two-seed (No. 29 overall seed) in the Chapel Hill Regional where they are matched with No. 4 overall seed North Carolina. Other teams in the Chapel Hill Regional include Mercer and Binghamton. Tennessee also has postseason history with North Carolina, losing in the 2019 Chapel Hill Regional.

More From RTI: Tennessee Baseball Gaining Trust In Will Haas Entering NCAA Tournament

If the Vols pull the upset in the Chapel Hill Regional they would matchup up against the winner of the Lincoln Regional including Nebraska, Ole Miss, Eastern Illinois and Illinois-Chicago.

Twelve SEC teams are in the Baseball America projection including Arkansas, Georgia, Ole Miss, Auburn, Mississippi State, Texas, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.

In past years, the NCAA seeded only the top 16 teams of the tournament. But this year, they are seeding the top 32 teams. While the selection committee does not have to create direct matches (No. 1 overall seed with No. 32 overall seed) they have to create relative matches.

That means that teams seeded No. 1 through No. 4 have to be paired with someone seeded No. 29 through No. 32. Teams seeded No. 5 through No. 8 have to be paired with someone seeded No. 25 through No. 28. Teams seeded No. 9 through No. 12 have to be paired with someone seeded No. 21 through No. 24. And lastly, teams seeded No. 13 through No. 16 have to be paired with teams seeded No. 17 through No. 20.

Tennessee baseball enters the NCAA Tournament boasting a 38-20 (15-15 SEC) record. The Vols struggled out the gats of SEC play, starting 4-8 in their first four series. But starting with a sweep of Mississippi State, the Vols went 11-7 over the next six weeks.

Josh Elander’s first Tennessee team won five of its 10 SEC series. They swept Mississippi State while Vanderbilt swept them. The Vols remained .500 in SEC play by going 1-1 at this week’s SEC Tournament.