Alamance County Commissioners Enact Year-Long Data Center Moratorium After Public Hearing

Alamance County Commissioners enacted a year-long moratorium on new data center development in unincorporated areas following an extensive public hearing. Over 40 residents voiced concerns, many advocating for a two-year pause to allow the county to establish regulations. Key issues raised by speakers like Elon University administrator Kelly Harer included significant water and electricity consumption, infrastructure costs, noise, proximity to homes, and environmental protection for farmland.

The public opposition was a grassroots effort, with many speakers displaying "no data centers" stickers and aligning on the need for a moratorium to develop suitable rules. Speakers from various political backgrounds, including Democratic political candidates and former Republican contenders, supported the pause. Experts, including a retired IT engineer and a former Duke Energy employee, highlighted the unique challenges posed by AI data centers on the electrical grid and resource demands.

Residents also emphasized the county's outdated land use regulations, particularly the lack of zoning in rural areas, which they believe leaves properties vulnerable to unwanted development. Environmental preservation, potential impacts on local housing markets, and the limited job creation of data centers compared to their demands on public resources were also major points of contention. Some speakers expressed a desire for an outright ban on data centers in Alamance County, dismissing claims of economic benefits and citing concerns about large corporations like Oracle.