Hawkins County commissioners pass resolution to ban data centers

With 12 yes votes and two commissioners absent, the Hawkins County Commission passed a resolution that would ban data centers and cryptocurrency mines in the county. Hawkins County’s ban on data centers is the subject of a federal lawsuit filed against the county by The Beacon Center of Tennessee, filed on behalf of ExoticRidge Crypto Company LLC. The company claims that the county’s ban on data centers and crypto mining operations is “unconstitutional, and is in violation of Tennessee state law.” If the county loses the suit and a judge were to rule in favor of ExoticRidge, Monday’s resolution would become invalidated.