# Nashville Zoo petition hits 288k signatures against adjacent AI data center

_Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 9:00 PM EDT · Infrastructure · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Nashville Zoo petition hits 288k signatures against adjacent AI data center — Primary](https://gray-wsmv-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/DN3NH3LTW5CRLP6BJBNX3QMCBU.png?auth=358e037f0a5d51dbdef6c7402448795c55b145634f02055ce37fdcd79099ef3c&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)

More than 288,000 people have signed a petition created by the Nashville Zoo against a proposal to build a large data center next door to their facility. The zoo launched the petition on Wednesday, asking the community to stand with the zoo in protecting the animals, habitats, people and future of Nashville Zoo. It gathered more than 150,000 signatures in just 48 hours.

Country music star Brad Paisley weighed in on Saturday, calling the proposal an absolute nightmare scenario and asking his fans to join the fight against the data center. The facility would be a single-story building spanning 69,220 square feet at 648 Grassmere Park in South Nashville, just feet from the zoo. Jeremy Dreiling filed the permit application, which also seeks to demolish two existing buildings at the site.

DC BLOX responded in a statement, saying it has heard the concerns and has operated data centers near neighborhoods, schools, daycare centers and businesses throughout the Southeast over the past decade. The company said it would use closed-loop or waterless cooling designs to conserve water and work with the local utility to pay for all power and new infrastructure. It also said it would test and manage noise to required levels, shield light fixtures and adhere to all regulations.

Many residents say they want those promises and more to become legal requirements. Nashville influencer and health advocate Ali Moresco said she wants data centers built responsibly so they do not impact the health of humans, animals and wildlife. Moresco, who is chronically ill and immune-compromised, expressed concern about air pollution from data centers, including reports of brown water and lung irritation near other facilities.

She likened the impact to having a diesel truck parked in a family room all the time and said the effects would be constant and compounding for people living nearby or farther away. Moresco referenced the xAI facility in Memphis and said two large data centers are proposed within 10 miles of her house. The Metro Nashville City Council is considering a bill that would put heavy restrictions on where data centers can be built and how they can operate.

## Sources

- [WSMV](https://www.wsmv.com/2026/06/08/more-than-288000-people-sign-nashville-zoo-petition-against-data-center-proposal/)

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Retrieved: 2026-06-26T04:38:50.622Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)