Greensboro city leaders discuss data center policy
Greensboro city leaders held their second work session to discuss data center policy and a framework for future development. Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter emphasized the importance of being prepared, even though no developers are currently seeking to build in the city. State and local officials outlined what aspects of data center development fall under state versus local regulatory control.
Greensboro, North Carolina city leaders convened their second data center work session, hearing from state officials regarding North Carolina's established policies and regulatory framework for data centers. Greensboro Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter stated the city's commitment to avoiding harm while also not precluding future data center consideration, provided stringent rules are met.
David Payne, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Economic Development for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), detailed the state's role in reviewing environmental aspects such as air and water quality. He highlighted that local governments maintain significant autonomy over planning, zoning, building codes, noise ordinances, and business recruitment.
Mayor Abuzuaiter noted that while no specific data center developer is currently pursuing projects in Greensboro, the city council aims to be prepared. Council members recently visited Loudoun County, Virginia, a major hyperscale data center hub, to learn from their experiences. Abuzuaiter expressed a personal preference for smaller, enterprise-level data centers that may not require significant local water resources, aligning with a trend NCDEQ is observing.