Brad Paisley is doing his part to stop an AI data center from being built right next to the Nashville Zoo. It was just a few days ago that the Nashville Zoo took to social media to ask the community and the world at large for help. According to them, developers are trying to build a 69,000 square foot data center in an area directly adjacent to their property. Though the people planning to build it say it will have no environmental impact, there aren’t enough studies out there just yet to confirm those claims. On the flip side, there’s already a lot of concern about the possible risks of data centers, and how they could impact vulnerable communities (mainly through power grid issues, depleting natural resources, and causing harm to the watershed). If those concerns are true, that could obviously cause a ton of issues with the delicate collection of animals that call the Nashville Zoo home. That’s why the non-profit organization posted on their social media accounts earlier this week asking for those willing to sign a petition to stop the building of the data center: “We’re asking our community to stand with us in protecting the animals, habitats, people and future of Nashville Zoo.” View this post on Instagram And that’s not the only way that the Nashville Zoo has put the word out there about the AI data center. Country music star Brad Paisley, who lives in Nashville with his family and evidently frequents the city’s zoo, recorded a video and posted it to social media asking for others to join him in signing a petition to stop the data center from being built right next to the Nashville Zoo: “By now you’ve probably heard about the proposed data center that they are going to build next to the Nashville Zoo, which is an absolute nightmare scenario. First of all, they don’t have the power to build this, they don’t have the water. It doesn’t belong there. It would be an enormous atrocity, an absolute eye sore, and detract in every way – not only the zoo – but that area. It’s not too late to stop it either. The Nashville Zoo is one of the sources of joy in the city. It is one of the top zoos in the world. It’s family memories. It’s expanding itself. It’s got all of these plans to become even better as a resource for our city. So let’s sign the petition if you agree, and everyone that I’ve talked to does. Let’s sign the petition, and let’s stop it. They don’t have to do this. They can build them somewhere else. Let’s keep Nashville beautiful and as great of an attraction as it’s always been.” View this post on Instagram If you wish to join Brad Paisley and many other Nashvillians in signing the petition to stop the AI data center, you can do so using this link.  The petition on Change.org, which has been organized by the Nashville Zoo itself, explains it’s motivation as follows: “At Nashville Zoo, our top priority is to protect our precious animals and their environment. We are equally committed to the health and safety of our visitors, staff, and neighbors living nearby. Yet, with no regulations or safeguards for use in place, developers intend to build a 69,000 square feet data center on land abutting the Zoo. They assert the community need not worry, that building a data center next door to one of the region’s most delicate environments will cause no harm. No one has shared studies or environmental impact assessments. Just their word. That’s why the Nashville Zoo is asking the community to join in vehemently opposing the proposed data center being built adjacent to the Zoo. One simple Google search shows growing concerns about data centers’ environmental and public health impacts nationwide. Data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity and water; straining power grids, depleting natural resources, and damaging our watershed. How are we to know this new data center will not lead to irreversible damage to the animals we exist to protect? We cannot afford to find out years from now how this facility has negatively impacted our 1.4 million visitors, our local community, or the 3,000 animals entrusting us with their care. We are calling on the Nashville community to join us in our fight to stop this data center from being built, now. Please sign our petition and say yes to the Zoo by saying no to the new data center. Express your concern and help us protect our vulnerable animals and the environment we call home.” Seems like there’s an obvious side to choose with this issue.The post Brad Paisley Takes Stand Against AI Data Center Being Built Next To Nashville Zoo: “It Doesn’t Belong There” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.