Survey: Impacts, site location among locals' top data center concerns

Around 86% of respondents in a recent community survey said they are extremely concerned about data centers coming to Johnson City. The online survey, conducted by the city of Johnson City over a two-month period, collected public opinion on data centers and the city's ongoing efforts to update local regulations for them. The response data, obtained by the Johnson City Press in a public records request, indicates most locals have a strong apprehension of data center development altogether. The survey collected nearly 6,000 responses between April and June, with a little over 90-percent of respondents reporting they either lived, worked, or lived and worked in the city. In a select-all-that-apply question, nearly 95% of respondents said environmental impacts are among their biggest concerns when it comes to data centers. Around two-thirds of respondents said noise, location near residential areas, and electrical substitutions and infrastructure are top concerns as well. When it comes to what community members want to see in local regulations on data centers, location and noise were at the center of most responses. When asked to select the approaches they'd support the city taking when regulating these types of developments, around 80% said they'd approve restrictions on where data centers can locate. 52% said they'd support increased setbacks from residential areas; 49% said they'd support stronger noise standards; and 44% said they'd support limits on generator testing hours. The survey also asked community members how they'd prefer the city update public on new developments in regulations. Around a third of respondents said they'd prefer social media updates; a quarter prefer local news; and close to a fifth of people said they'd prefer the city website or public meetings. Currently, city staff are working to revise Johnson City's zoning code and noise ordinance to address potential data center developments. Around half of respondents said they were aware of these ongoing regulatory updates. A long list of new city zoning regulations for data centers made it through its first round of voting in early June. Updates to the city's noise ordinance are yet to be seen as city staff continue to review data collected in a consultant's noise and vibration study. A report on the noise and vibration study, conducted by JPM Acoustics, was made publicly available online in mid-July. It along with other materials from city staff updates can be found by visiting https://www.johnsoncitytn.org/topics_of_interest under submenu "Data Center Regulation."