Commissioners reject moratorium on future data center development
The Lee County Board of Commissioners rejected a proposed 180-day moratorium on additional data center development by a 5-2 vote. The debate followed approval of PointOne’s Lower Moncure Road project, which continues to face resident opposition and concerns about the county’s regulatory process and electrical capacity.
The Lee County Board of Commissioners voted down a proposed 180-day moratorium on future data center development. Commissioner Robert Reives Sr. introduced the measure, arguing that the county needed time to review its process, but county-retained zoning attorney Brady Herman advised that state law required specific findings and noted that the county had adopted data center regulations six months earlier. The moratorium would not have applied to PointOne’s already approved Lower Moncure Road project.
The board also discussed whether other sites could support large data centers and whether the local power system could accommodate additional facilities. County Manager Lisa Minter said no other currently suitable site appeared capable of hosting a project of similar size without rezoning, while Central Electric Membership Corporation CEO Eddie Oldham said the utility’s capacity letter covered one project and that a future phase could require transmission upgrades paid for by the developer. Residents continued to oppose the Lower Moncure Road project, even though the county has affirmed that it will proceed.