Mount Airy Data Center Moratorium Set to Expire Dec. 13
Mount Airy commissioners voted unanimously to allow the city’s moratorium on new data center development to expire Dec. 13 rather than extend it. Officials said the city must finalize data center regulations quickly, while residents have raised concerns about noise, water use, electricity demand and setbacks from homes.
The Mount Airy Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to let the city’s pause on new data center development expire Dec. 13. Commissioner Chad Hutchens warned that repeatedly extending moratoriums could discourage development, while also noting that developers had already been given 12 months to help develop a suitable plan. Officials said the city’s next data center proposal could be governed by less restrictive existing rules if a new ordinance is not completed before the deadline.
The decision followed earlier public concerns about noise, water consumption and setbacks from residences. City officials said they were not opposed to data centers but wanted responsible development, and indicated that a proposed ordinance addressed those issues. Mount Airy’s debate is part of a broader North Carolina trend, with other counties considering or adopting temporary data center moratoriums as local governments assess the facilities’ electricity and water demands.