Data Centers NC | Durham County leaders weigh data center moratorium with exemptions for smaller ones
Durham County commissioners held a public hearing on a proposed data center moratorium, which would last until May 2027 and include exemptions for smaller projects. Residents urged for a stronger, longer moratorium without loopholes, citing concerns about air pollution, water use, and energy consumption. The county plans to study data center impacts and review regulations during the proposed pause.
Durham County commissioners held a contentious public hearing on Monday regarding a proposed moratorium on data center development, prompting significant resident turnout and calls for a more stringent ban. The proposed measure, slated to last until May 2027, includes exemptions for data centers smaller than 100,000 square feet, particularly around areas like Research Triangle Park.
Local residents expressed strong opposition, holding signs reading "No Data Centers in Durham" and advocating for a 32-month moratorium without any exceptions. Their concerns centered on potential negative impacts such as air pollution, excessive water usage, and high energy consumption. Speakers at the hearing emphasized the need to remove "loopholes" from the proposed ordinance to allow for the creation of robust regulations.
Conversely, representatives from the business community, including those from Research Triangle Park, urged commissioners to pass the moratorium "as written," arguing that a longer, broader ban could negatively affect the region's economic growth and its 55,000 employees across 400 companies. One speaker challenged the notion that limiting data centers would harm progress, suggesting such relationships could be "parasitic."
During the proposed moratorium period, Durham County intends to conduct a comprehensive study on data center impacts, analyze how other North Carolina communities regulate such facilities, and actively involve residents in the process. The city of Durham has already implemented its own data center moratorium, while neighboring Orange, Chatham, and Cumberland Counties have also enacted similar pauses.