Image Credit: Google Earth, Bradley County Government & Canva.
Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
A London-based developer is suing Bradley County over data center regulations passed earlier this year, arguing they are invalid and would interfere with their plans to place a facility directly behind a local high school.
Founded in 2007, Sustainable Development Capital LLC (SDCL) is “one of the most established and innovative investment firms in the sustainability markets and is unique in its dedicated focus on efficient and decentralized energy solutions”, with offices in New York City, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dublin.
The firm is proposing a data center campus called “Project MidSpan” on 306 acres directly behind Walker Valley High School the company purchased in 2024, with the closest building sitting only about 1,700 feet from the school.
This positioning would put the facility in violation of regulations for large-scale data centers passed by the Bradley County Commission earlier this year requiring a 3,000-foot setback from schools, homes, and churches.
On Sept. 18, SDCL contacted County Mayor Gary Davis, informing him of Project MidSpan and that the company’s New York branch has filed a complaint in court “asserting that the process required under Tennessee law was not followed in the County’s April 2026 vote regarding data center regulations” and asking the court to declare the county’s regulations invalid.
“At the April 20 meeting, a commissioner made a remark on the public record that the new rules make it ‘99.9%’ impossible to develop. We believe a rule with that effect goes beyond what a local government is permitted to adopt under Tennessee law, and our legal filing raised that question for the court to decide,” the company wrote.
But the company also says it “wants to be the kind of neighbor Bradley County can count on: open about our plans, responsive to concerns, and a constructive partner to local leaders.”
On Monday, Mayor Davis informed the county commission about Project MidSpan and the suit, noting the oddity of his being contacted by SDCL on the exact same day the local developers of another proposed huge energy campus, Project River, announced a temporary pause on the project following massive community pushback.
“Earlier this year, we heard from our community about large-scale data centers,” Davis said. “The message was clear. People had serious concerns about where the facilities could be built and what they could mean for homes, schools, churches, and surrounding communities. Bradley County listened…Now those regulations are being challenged in court. We didn’t adopt these regulations by accident. We adopted them because this community asked its county government to establish protections for large-scale data center development.
Over the last several weeks, there has been tremendous public attention surrounding data centers in Bradley County. People have attended meetings, asked questions, organized, and made their voices heard. I want those citizens to understand that there is now another data center issue that deserves their attention, and this one directly involved Bradley County and the regulations your county commission put in place. I encourage our citizens to learn more about Project MidSpan, understand this lawsuit, and pay attention as this case moves forward.”
Davis also asked for the community’s support in the upcoming legal fight, warning how expensive the venture is likely to be as it “could require substantial taxpayer resources,” though he affirmed, “I don’t take that lightly.”
To ensure citizens have access to the same information Davis was provided, the Bradley County government has published the communications from SDCL and the Project Midspan proposed site plan, which Davis reiterated was “new information for us as well.”
“We listened to our citizens. We acted. And now that action is being challenged. Bradley County will defend its position and the regulations adopted by your county commission,” Davis assured. He also made clear that because litigation is now in play, he will be limited in what he can discuss publicly about the case, though he promised to “do my best to keep you informed along the way” as he is allowed.
Sources:
TennesseeConservativeNews.com.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
May God help Bradley County to fend off the attack of this callous “developer”.