Petition: Reject the Project River Annexation Loophole in Cleveland, TN

ISSUE:

The Threat to Our Community

An $11.3 billion heavy industrial energy campus called Project River is attempting to exploit a city annexation loophole to force its way into Bradley County. A private developer is asking the City of Cleveland to annex 850 acres of rural land located 7 miles north of the actual city limits along the Hiwassee River.

We are a unified coalition of local families, neighborhood homeowners, and passionate outdoor lovers. From families who enjoy our quiet neighborhoods to local hunters, fishermen, and boaters who rely on the pristine beauty of the Hiwassee River corridor, we are standing shoulder-to-shoulder to stop this reckless development. Our homes, our beloved natural recreational spaces, and the peace of future generations who inherit this county are simply not for sale.

Why We Must Stop Project River

Developers are attempting to use city annexation as a legal shield to completely bypass the strict data center regulations that the Bradley County Commission unanimously passed earlier this year to protect local residents. If allowed to move forward, this project will permanently degrade our community through devastating environmental and logistical footprints:

• An Unproven, Experimental Concept: The proposed 500-megawatt biomass facility is entirely experimental. There is not a single plant of this scale operating under this methodology anywhere in the United States. Cleveland must not be the guinea pig for a massive industrial science project.
• Massive Deforestation: To feed this unproven plant, developers intend to harvest 5 to 6 million tons of timber annually from a 250-mile radius, stripping regional forests and clogging our local infrastructure with an endless caravan of heavy log trucks.
• Severe 24/7 Noise Pollution: The cooling infrastructure for the massive data center complex generates a continuous, low-frequency drone of 70 to 80 decibels running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, directly adjacent to established family neighborhoods.
• Taxpayer Burden: Because of the 7-mile distance gap, Cleveland taxpayers would be forced to shoulder the financial burden of stretching city utilities, police, and emergency services across miles of unincorporated county infrastructure just to reach an isolated private site.

We are calling on the City of Cleveland to deny this annexation and respect county protections. We are urging Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis and the County Commission to initiate a Growth Plan Amendment to shrink the city’s future growth boundary and block this loophole permanently.

Sign this petition today to protect our environment, safeguard our community, and demand a vote of NO.

Nearly 50 House Republicans Push Bill That Grants “DE FACTO AMNESTY” to Illegal Alien Farm Workers Present in the U.S. as of May 31, 2026

A group of nearly 50 House Republicans is pushing legislation that would grant de facto amnesty to illegal alien farm workers who were unlawfully present in the United States as of May 31, 2026.

A de facto amnesty means people who broke the law are effectively allowed to stay or avoid punishment, even though the government has not officially declared an amnesty.

Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, introduced H.R. 9535, the “Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026,” on June 30.

There are 53 total cosponsors: 49 Republicans and 4 Democrats, and it is currently sitting in the House Judiciary Committee.

One of those Republicans is our Rep, Chuck Fleischmann. Write to him to let him know his voters do not support such action.

Call Chuck: Phone: (423) 756-2342

Email Chuck Click Here