Alamance County Debates Proposed Data Center Moratorium
Alamance County Commissioners heard diverse public opinions regarding a proposed data center moratorium. While some speakers supported the moratorium to allow for drafting new regulations and addressing misconceptions, others argued against it, citing concerns about noise, electricity, and water as overblown or politicized.
Alamance County Commissioners recently held a public meeting to discuss a proposed moratorium on data center development, eliciting varied responses from the public.
Susan Bertuccelli spoke in favor of the moratorium, emphasizing the need for county officials to clarify misconceptions about data centers. She argued that modern data centers are adopting alternative energy sources and advanced water-saving technologies. Her comments, however, were met with boos from the audience.
Rudy Cartassi, a former commissioner candidate, drew on his experience with a bitcoin data center to assert that most complaints about data centers, particularly concerning power, internet speed, and water, are unfounded. He contended that noise is the primary issue and that sensible county policies could effectively manage it.
Two other speakers, Michael Cocchiola and Matt Stansberry, explicitly opposed the moratorium. Cocchiola proposed specific regulations for Alamance County but seemed to assume the moratorium was an end in itself rather than a means to develop such rules. Stansberry characterized the moratorium as "political theater," arguing it addresses a hypothetical problem while the county neglects existing issues, especially since he believes no data center projects are currently pending.