Nashville’s zoo just filed a zoning appeal to halt a hyperscale data center slated for a site 50 yards from the animal park. The appeal, filed on June 11, targets permits approved for a facility that the developer, GreenGrid Solutions, says will draw about 45 MW of electricity and use roughly 2 million gallons of water per day.
The move sharpens a growing backlash that has already gathered over 330,000 petition signatures. City officials have said they will consider a broader ban on new hyperscale facilities, with a draft ordinance expected by the end of July.
If the appeal succeeds, GreenGrid would have to relocate or redesign, potentially curbing the region’s push to attract large‑scale cloud providers. The zoo argues the project threatens local water supplies and could disrupt wildlife habitats.
The dispute is a rare example of a municipal zoo influencing a city’s tech‑infrastructure policy, and it could set a precedent for other communities wrestling with similar projects.