Issue 09 of 12

Energy, environment, AI and data centers

Same questions to both candidates. Evidence label, source and date on every answer. How we check.

Marsha BlackburnRepublican · campaign site
Jerri GreenDemocrat · campaign site

Q1Energy development

Blackburn

Supports energy infrastructure investment, including nuclear power.

Documented positionKnoxville News Sentinel candidate questionnaire (AOL syndication)2026-10-01checked 2026-10-14

Green

Supports renewable energy, energy storage and environmental protections.

Documented positionJerri Green for Governor: policy platform2026checked 2026-10-14

Q2Data centers

Blackburn

No 2026 gubernatorial position identified from sources reviewed.

Not establishedNo source: nothing found for this question

Green

Day One plan: sign an executive order advocating for a statewide moratorium on new data-center development and work to end related state incentives.

An order to advocate for a moratorium; the governor alone cannot enact a statewide ban.

Campaign proposalJerri Green for Governor: policy platform2026checked 2026-10-14

Q3Electricity costs

Blackburn

No 2026 gubernatorial position identified from sources reviewed.

Not establishedNo source: nothing found for this question

Green

Wants restrictions preventing data-center infrastructure costs from being shifted onto residential customers.

Campaign proposalJerri Green for Governor: policy platform2026checked 2026-10-14

Q4Water use

Blackburn

No 2026 gubernatorial position identified from sources reviewed.

Not establishedNo source: nothing found for this question

Green

Proposes requiring recycled water for server cooling.

Campaign proposalJerri Green for Governor: policy platform2026checked 2026-10-14

Q5AI and employment

Blackburn

No 2026 gubernatorial position identified from sources reviewed.

Not establishedNo source: nothing found for this question

Green

Proposes fines for large corporations replacing at least 25 workers with AI, with proceeds supporting retraining.

Campaign proposalJerri Green for Governor: policy platform2026checked 2026-10-14

Q6Automated decisions

Blackburn

No 2026 gubernatorial position identified from sources reviewed.

Not establishedNo source: nothing found for this question

Green

Proposes human appeals when AI is used to deny employment, housing or healthcare, and restrictions on AI use in criminal justice decisions.

Campaign proposalJerri Green for Governor: policy platform2026checked 2026-10-14

Sources for this issue

Archived copies of every source as read on 2026-10-14 are kept for the corrections record. All sources.

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