‘Once it’s gone, it’s gone’: Impacts of AI data centers on communities
Microsoft is planning an AI data center on a 1,350-acre site in Person County, North Carolina, raising concerns among farmers about water use, power demand and the loss of agricultural land. In nearby Apex, officials enacted a 12-month moratorium on data center development after strong community opposition to a proposed project in New Hill.
Microsoft acquired a 1,350-acre property in Person County in 2024 and was planning an AI data center there as of April 2026. Local farmer Bryce Berryhill worries the project could compete with agriculture for water and permanently change the area’s prime farmland. Microsoft says the facility will use air-cooled chillers and a recirculating water system, and that it will pay for infrastructure so local water rates do not increase. The company acknowledges that lower water use can require more electricity, potentially adding pressure to local power systems.
In Apex, Mayor Jacques Gilbert said residents have raised concerns about energy consumption, drinking water, generator noise and quality of life. The town imposed a 12-month moratorium through April 27, 2027, preventing officials from reviewing or approving data center applications while the Apex Environmental Advisory Board researches development and zoning regulations. The Protect Wake County Coalition, formed by New Hill residents, continues to oppose the proposed project, while polling cited in the report shows growing opposition to data centers across North Carolina and the United States, primarily because of environmental and resource-use concerns.