Tennessee family seeks energy campus on 850 acres, sparking resident concerns
The Wright family proposes Project River, an $11.3 billion industrial campus on 850 acres in Bradley County, Tennessee, potentially including a natural gas and biomass-fueled power complex and a data center. This plan faces significant resident concerns regarding environmental impact, noise, traffic, and the future of the Hiwassee River, as it moves towards initial planning and council votes.
Why it matters
This case exemplifies the growing conflict between economic development, energy demand (especially for data centers), and environmental protection in rural communities, raising questions about sustainable growth and local autonomy.
A proposed industrial campus in Bradley County, Tennessee, is putting economic development, energy demand and environmental protection on a collision course. The Wright family, owners of Wright Brothers Construction, wants to rezone and annex about 850 acres west of Interstate 75 and north of Old Lower River Road, close to the Hiwassee River. Called Project River, the development could include a power complex fuelled by natural gas and woody biomass, along with a large industrial customer such as a data center. No data center operator has signed a contract, but developers say that is the most likely use. As reported by WUTC’s Scenic Roots, the project is approaching its first planning commission and city council votes while residents continue asking questions about water, noise, traffic, emissions and the river’s future.A major proposal in a rural settingProject River would transform land that is currently zoned for farming and agricultural use.
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