Memphis City Council rejects a pause on new data centres on a 6-6 tie, and passes a separate ordinance setting rules for them
One member was absent. Some councillors said they did not know what they were voting on when the ordinance was swapped mid-meeting.
The Memphis City Council voted 6-6 on 20 October on a temporary pause on new data-centre development, so the moratorium failed, The Commercial Appeal and Action News 5 reported. Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton was absent. The vote had been postponed from 6 October.
Action News 5 reported that the council “passed ordinance 18, which calls for regulations for data centers.” The Commercial Appeal says the ordinance that passed was swapped in during the meeting by Councilman Jeff Warren, and that some members did not know what they were voting on. In its account, two more ordinances moved forward: one updates zoning codes for data centres, and the other sets a land-use framework for “resource-intensive uses.” After the meeting Councilman JB Smiley Jr., speaking about the confusion over the vote, said: “Councilmembers were trying to read the ordinance on the spot.”
Action News 5 describes it as a 12-month moratorium; The Commercial Appeal gives no length. The council's own record was not opened.
The Switchboard reported on 17 October that San Francisco had passed a 45-day moratorium on data centres.
- Reported The moratorium failed on a 6-6 vote with Councilwoman Cooper-Sutton absent, The Commercial Appeal reported. The Commercial Appeal, via Yahoo
- Reported The council passed ordinance 18, which calls for regulations for data centres, Action News 5 reported. Action News 5
Today in the October 21, 2026 edition · front page