Western NC mayor shares why his town placed a moratorium on data centers

Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers addressed the NewDEAL Leaders Ideas Summit, detailing his town's decision to enact a 12-month moratorium on data center development. Mayor Smathers highlighted that this move, supported by a bipartisan coalition, allows Canton to research and establish an ordinance with proper regulations for data centers. He expressed concerns about the potential disruptive impact of data centers on local electricity grids, water resources, and even national security, citing the possibility of private equity or foreign-based ownership. The mayor emphasized the need for communities to proactively address these issues rather than react to them, acknowledging the economic promise of data centers while also pointing out their limited job creation and significant risks. He noted that the gifts of nature, such as rivers, mountains, and sky, can be more important than economic gain, but conceded that data centers are an enduring presence in the modern, AI-driven world.