Nashville uses eminent domain to block data center near zoo • Hacker News Board

Re: Nashville uses eminent domain to block data center near zoo

#461

Post by culi » Thu, Aug 06, 2026, 6:47 PM UTC

Eueudhsbsj32 wrote: post #259

culi wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We have those but data centers keep skirting them. Data center developers often classify their properties as "light industrial" or "warehouse" to bypass regulation. These lobbyists are also big enough to push state legislation that strips local towns and counties of land-use authority. Noise regulation is also sorely lacking because it's usually based on absolute decibel and ignores the impact of low-frequency contin…

Sounds like a good opportunity to update the rules on noise pollution then.

Probably zoning and anti-corruption laws too. That's why I think moratoriums like what Maine did are incredibly important. We should take our time and make sure things are done right. Pro-data center people who oppose those things are digging their own graves

Re: Nashville uses eminent domain to block data center near zoo

#462

Post by afavour » Thu, Aug 06, 2026, 6:52 PM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #455

ToucanLoucan wrote: post #438

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the emotional truth that a lot of people are just not seeing. It takes so long to build trust. It takes seconds to obliterate it. And big tech as a whole has been obliterating it's trust for like... a decade now. You can't just isolate AI data centers, or even this potentially not-AI one, from everything else and be like "well opposition to this normal thing is ridiculous." Yes, it might well be. However ther…

I can't get past the premise here that data centers are using material amounts of water. You took all the time to write this, but then included an assertion I think we all broadly know isn't true.

I think you’re completely sidestepping the point of the OPs post about “emotional truth”.

It’s indisputably true that a data center tapped a water supply without the supplier knowing about it and it caused water pressure in surrounding homes to drop:

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/08/georgia-data-center...

Whether it was a “material amount” of water is pretty irrelevant here. “affects my home water supply and they didn’t pay for it” makes it plenty material for voters and just feeds into the existing narrative that these companies are stomping all over the will of everyday people.

Re: Nashville uses eminent domain to block data center near zoo

#463

Post by ToucanLoucan » Thu, Aug 06, 2026, 6:52 PM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #455

ToucanLoucan wrote: post #438

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the emotional truth that a lot of people are just not seeing. It takes so long to build trust. It takes seconds to obliterate it. And big tech as a whole has been obliterating it's trust for like... a decade now. You can't just isolate AI data centers, or even this potentially not-AI one, from everything else and be like "well opposition to this normal thing is ridiculous." Yes, it might well be. However ther…

I can't get past the premise here that data centers are using material amounts of water. You took all the time to write this, but then included an assertion I think we all broadly know isn't true.

As I said:

> You can disagree with all of these points, and give rational, logical arguments to them. And most of them I would agree with you! But just because YOU don't think there's a problem, doesn't mean people don't think there's a problem, and most importantly: you cannot decide there isn't a problem for them.

And, really, I don't think it's that their water usage is uniquely terrible, I think it's far more that their water usage feels unnecessary which goes back to the AI not doing much for regular people issue. Most people see AI features as intrusive nuisances, and even in the best of circumstances, a huge AI DC is going to need a lot of water, both directly for cooling, and indirectly via it's demand to the power grid. Virtually every method aside of solar we use to generate power requires pretty substantial amounts of water, if for nothing else than to boil it.

That doesn't mean that data center is using a huge, unbelievable amount of water, it's that whatever water it is using, which we know is at least substantial, is water that could be better used for other things. Nobody bats an eye at the amount of water used to make concrete or grow food or raise livestock, because we have to get around and build things, and we have to eat. But if you have this tech which is seemingly a lightning rod for nonsense that needs it's own special data centers that use tons of the stuff... people are gonna say something.

Re: Nashville uses eminent domain to block data center near zoo

#464

Post by DANmode » Thu, Aug 06, 2026, 6:58 PM UTC

seanhunter wrote: post #337

namdnay wrote: post #245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you read the guardian article? It’s a bit of a nothing-burger, are we really going to have a national panic based on that? > flushed bacteria-contaminated water into public sewers I do that every morning

…and you get to do that because you pay for clean water and sewage treatment. But that doesn’t mean some company can use the public sewers to dispose of as much bacteria-contaminated water as they like without paying for that externality.

or flush it off into the woods, because they got a local politician to sign off.

With lithium or whatever, in your waste…

Re: Nashville uses eminent domain to block data center near zoo

#465

Post by mafuy » Thu, Aug 06, 2026, 7:00 PM UTC

inigyou wrote: post #295

deepsun wrote: post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMO noise pollution is the easiest one to solve: just put all the AC fans on the far side of the datacenter. If not enough, surround with noise absorbing panels. If not enough, just get a different fan design, more coolers, and run them at half speed. They can even afford Noctua :) I bet nearby rail yard produces way more loud noises. Datacenter is like the cleanest and most ecofriendly business you can imagine.

Can noise that can be heard a kilometer away really not be heard from the other side of a building? Noise absorbing panels block airflow, if you didn't know that. Useless for AC.

You don't need to block the airway. Air and sound move differently, so you absorb on paths that sounds likes to travel and minimize obstruction on the air path. Something akin to a Tesla valve.

I'm willing to bet that you can make the exhaust noise near inaudible if you want to. Problem is, it costs a couple 10k dollars or so, and why pay for that if you can just fuck over the neighbour instead?

Re: Nashville uses eminent domain to block data center near zoo

#466

Post by betaby » Thu, Aug 06, 2026, 7:01 PM UTC

polski-g wrote: post #450

betaby wrote: post #356

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Property Tax revenue Property Tax revenue is surprisingly tiny from data centers in Quebec. Some how DCs have low assessment for the building, like way lower then their resale value even. > they are not a drain on services like schools, roads, fire department, police department etc. Police - definitely not. Roads on other hand, DCs are hauling new equipment / decommissioned equipment daily. I'm in fact in favor of…

Then change how property is calculated? Virginia taxes business-owned property based on the land and the contents within .

I have no say in this process. Of course taxes are based on land and building assessed cost. Montreal and suburbs chose to assess condos at a market rate and even higher, while to assess detached house way below the market and assess data centers below the costs it was recently resold.

Re: Nashville uses eminent domain to block data center near zoo

#467

Post by otterley » Thu, Aug 06, 2026, 7:03 PM UTC

sophacles wrote: post #457

otterley wrote: post #442

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I look at issues like this, I balance benefits against costs, like any reasonable person should, and I try to do so as neutrally as I can. Using emotionally-charged verbiage like "chasing a shiny toy" and "deplorable" isn't helping your case and makes you sound frankly unhinged. There are substantive, realizable benefits from using AI. Over the past few days alone, it has played a significant role in helping me…

Of course you deem the costs acceptable because you don't have to pay them. The word deplorable means: deserving condemnation and contempt. And frankly, I can't think of anything more deserving of contempt than a person willing to accept the harm to others for a slight increase in convenience. > Yes, this sometimes puts a toll on the individual. We should support them when this happens via a social safety net. But we…

We agree that clean energy and social safety sets are worth demanding and preserving. Externalities are a real problem and yes, they need to be compensated for.

> And frankly, I can't think of anything more deserving of contempt than a person willing to accept the harm to others for a slight increase in convenience.

Before you claim moral high ground here, you should take a good hard look at yourself and all the conveniences you enjoy and make sure you're absolutely consistent with this principle. I'll bet you'll find that you're not.

Re: Nashville uses eminent domain to block data center near zoo

#468

Post by pavel_lishin » Thu, Aug 06, 2026, 7:07 PM UTC

throwaway2037 wrote: post #107

If anyone is curious, from the photograph in the article, I have geolocated the existing business park property here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kYyHuEWcAZkrypWa7 The whole area is (1) office parks (including large parking lots), (2) warehouses/light manuf'ing/"big box" stores, (3) enormous(!) rail yard (freight trains), (4) the Nashville Zoo. I don't have any skin in this fight, but I think it is a missed opportunity.…

> Can they limit the power draw and noise levels? Can they promise not to generate any power onsite (gas turbines, etc.)? Can they promise to cover the data center roof with solar panels?

Can they break those promises easily?

Sure, you can sue, but while those suits move through courts, everyone else suffers.

Re: Nashville uses eminent domain to block data center near zoo

#469

Post by bruce511 » Thu, Aug 06, 2026, 7:08 PM UTC

lovich wrote: post #446

bruce511 wrote: post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The developer (likely) won't do it in isolation. But the point of building permits, and building regs and so on is to create requirements that let the development live in harmony with the community. If local govt is not stipulating the requirements then that's on them. People don't need to be "against data centers" they need to be "for no noise" and so on.

> The developer (likely) won't do it in isolation. Do you not see how people might be angry at someone who dumps their problems onto your doorstep unless the government forces them not to?

You don't get angry with the scorpion for stinging the frog. He is just behaving according to his nature.

The US is in a late-capitalist phase right now. It's gotten here because the voting public think it's a good thing. Every two years they go to the polls and vote for "business friendly" parties and policies. And indeed most Americans today would say Capitailism is great, Govt intervention is bad, fewer regulations gets stuff done. Anything other than rabid capitalism is defacto Communism.

And while very popular right now getting angry at all serves no purpose. When everyone is angry about everything all the time it ceases to be notable.

What is purposeful is taking an interest in local govt. It's alerting your council as to your concerns. And by encouraging neighbors to do the same. It's in thinking beyond the simplistic "pro business at all costs" rhetoric. It's understanding that current US policies, foreign and domestic, are specifically designed to make companies richer and citizens poorer.

And understand that you're not in a fight to stop development. You're in a fight to make the development work in harmony with the community, and not against it. The opposite of ugly corporate behavior is not communism.

Re: Nashville uses eminent domain to block data center near zoo

#470

Post by j2kun » Thu, Aug 06, 2026, 7:09 PM UTC

veunes wrote: post #170

j2kun wrote: post #70

What I think is nice is that the political parties opposed to data center development are actually taking concrete steps, exercising specific powers, to advance their goals. So much opposition to tech boils down to whining, and then the tech companies get to do whatever they want anyway. Same complaint applies generally to the democratic establishment. It's nice to see people finally waking up to the reality that opp…

If the city thinks data centers are incompatible with certain areas, it should encode that through zoning, permitting, utility pricing, noise limits, etc.

FTA:

> In late July, the Metro Council approved new zoning and related restrictions on data center development and implemented a moratorium on new permit approvals to run through Dec. 1.