Mountain City planning commissions says no to data center rezoning

A proposed data center in Mountain City is dead in the water. Following an outpouring of intense public backlash, the town’s planning commission voted unanimously Thursday night to deny the necessary rezoning request. Nearly a dozen residents and local business owners spoke out at the meeting. They argued the facility—proposed by James Phipps and Blue Sky AI—would be destructive to the community and harmful to local commerce. Even Mayor Jerry Jordan expressed disappointment, noting the town is missing out on a business that could help the economy, but ultimately stated he had to bow to the wishes of the community.