Data center developer hosts community meeting in Stokes County
A data center developer, ELS Short, hosted a community meeting in Stokes County, North Carolina, to discuss an expanded project after their original zoning approval was voided due to a lawsuit over improper public notices. Residents raised concerns about noise pollution and environmental impacts, while the developer highlighted potential tax revenue and jobs.
Data center developer ELS Short (Engineer Lance Solutions) recently held a public meeting in Stokes County, North Carolina, to address an expanded data center campus, dubbed "Project Delta." The proposed facility, located near Walnut Cove and Duke Energy's Blues Creek Plant, is projected to generate over $40 million in annual tax revenue and create 250 to 500 new jobs.
Community members at the meeting expressed significant concerns, particularly regarding potential noise pollution and other environmental impacts. This public discussion comes after the developer's original project approval earlier this year was scrapped. A lawsuit filed against Stokes County revealed that some public notices were improperly sent, leading to the zoning being voided.
During the meeting, ELS Short's CEO, Nation, clarified that their proposed data center would utilize closed-loop, air-cooled hybrid, or direct shift liquid cooling systems, specifically not open-loop systems that consume millions of gallons of water daily. He stated that the next step for the company is to finalize and resubmit their application, initiating a new public rezoning process.