Executive order establishes expert review, community engagement, and recommendations to protect Memphis neighborhoods and natural resources
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (October 9, 2026) – Memphis Mayor Paul Young is issuing an executive order establishing a 90-day study to develop clear, actionable recommendations for regulating large and hyperscale data centers in Memphis.
The study will bring together subject-matter experts to identify potential policy guardrails and recommend protections for neighborhoods, infrastructure, air quality, water resources, and utility customers.
“My responsibility is to protect Memphians and make sure our city benefits from the investments coming here. From day one, we’ve worked to address the impact of data centers on our energy, water, and infrastructure. Our residents deserve answers and strong protections. This executive order brings the right experts and agencies together to establish clear guardrails and make sure growth works for Memphis.”
– Mayor Paul Young
The executive order establishes a group of subject-matter experts appointed by the mayor and chaired by the City’s chief operating officer. The group will include individuals with relevant professional, technical, governmental, academic, legal, financial, environmental, and economic development expertise.
The study will address six areas:
- Land Use and Neighborhood Protections: Evaluate updates to the Unified Development Code, including appropriate required distances between large and hyperscale data centers and residential properties and schools.
- Infrastructure: Review engineering standards for assessing impacts on infrastructure, stormwater systems, sanitary sewer connections, traffic controls, and landscaping requirements.
- Air Quality: Develop recommendations for the Shelby County Health Department and other responsible agencies regarding permitting, monitoring, and enforcement.
- Water and Aquifer Protection: Evaluate water-use standards and alternatives, including the use of treated wastewater for industrial cooling, for consideration by Memphis Light, Gas & Water.
- Energy and Utility Costs: Examine grid capacity, peak demand, demand response, and appropriate rate structures to prevent large users from negatively affecting other customers or shifting costs to them.
- Noise: Recommend acceptable noise levels and mitigation measures.
Community engagement will be part of the study. The executive order requires at least three community education sessions, including a written public comment period and an open presentation of the expert group’s findings and recommendations.
The order also directs the City’s Engineering Department to incorporate an extended review period of at least five business days into its permitting process during the study. This will allow additional consideration of potential development impacts, including whether traffic studies, traffic signals, signage, or intersection and roadway improvements may be necessary.
Because responsibility for regulating data centers is shared among multiple agencies, the study will identify which governmental or regulatory body has authority over each recommended action. Recommendations will be developed for the Memphis City Council, Shelby County Health Department, Memphis Light, Gas & Water, and other appropriate regulatory agencies.
The study will proceed concurrently with the Memphis City Council’s ongoing consideration of data center legislation. The executive order does not suspend, delay, restrict, or interfere with Council action.
“We cannot address every concern through City government alone,” Young said. “Air quality, water, energy, and land use involve different agencies with different responsibilities. We need everyone exercising their authority and working toward the same goal: strong protections for the people of Memphis.”
The expert group may submit interim recommendations at any point during the study if issues requiring prompt consideration are identified. A final written report, including principal findings, recommended substantive and procedural guardrails, and recommendations for each responsible agency or the administration, will be submitted to the mayor within 90 days of the order taking effect.
“This work is about taking deliberate action,” Young said. “We are listening to our residents, bringing the right people to the table, and moving with urgency to put strong, enforceable guardrails in place.”
The executive order becomes effective upon the mayor’s signature.
Executive Order can be viewed here.
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Media Contact:
Arlenia Cole, City of Memphis, 901-569-1971
[email protected]