Lawrence County commissioners tabled a proposed temporary moratorium on data centers and other high-density computing operations during their regular meeting Tuesday night.

Resolution 20260728-03 would have imposed a 12-month pause on the establishment, construction, development, expansion or operation of data centers, cryptocurrency mining facilities, artificial intelligence computing facilities, cloud-computing facilities and similar operations within Lawrence County. The proposal was sponsored by Commission Chairman Shane Eaton and Commissioner Wayne Yocom.

Because the resolution was tabled, commissioners did not enact the proposed moratorium Tuesday night. The matter could be brought back before the commission for consideration at a future meeting.

The proposed resolution cited concerns about the amount of electricity, water and telecommunications infrastructure such facilities may require. It also raised questions about noise, heat, vibration, environmental effects, transportation needs, emergency-service demands and the potential effect on surrounding properties and residents’ quality of life.

County officials also noted in the proposal that Lawrence County currently does not have countywide zoning, building codes or comprehensive land-use regulations specifically addressing data centers and other large-scale computing operations.

Had the resolution been approved, a Data Center and Land Use Study Committee would have been created to examine the potential effects of the facilities and determine whether Lawrence County should consider development standards, building codes, zoning regulations or other land-use controls. The committee would also have studied suitable locations for large industrial developments, fire and emergency-response concerns, utility demands, roadway impacts, economic-development opportunities and the experiences of other Tennessee counties.

The committee would have been required to present recommendations to the County Commission before the proposed 12-month moratorium expired.

The data center issue has generated public discussion during several recent commission meetings. Nine residents addressed commissioners regarding a proposed data center project during the May 26 meeting, while two residents spoke on the subject during the commission’s June 30 session. No action was taken on the project during either public-comment period.

Tuesday night’s decision leaves the proposed moratorium unresolved while commissioners determine whether, and in what form, the measure should return for additional consideration.