Commissioners approve two-year moratorium on data centers
Edgecombe County commissioners in North Carolina have unanimously approved a two-year moratorium on data center development applications. This decision, which followed a public hearing, aims to give county leaders time to evaluate future proposals and strengthen local protections amidst concerns over water, electricity, and noise impacts. The vote comes after a company, Energy Storage Solutions, withdrew its plan for a data center in the Kingsboro area.
The Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina unanimously approved a two-year moratorium on data center development applications, effective until August 3, 2028. The decision, met with applause from the audience, followed a public hearing where several residents and environmental advocates spoke in favor of the pause.
Speakers, including county resident Owen Ellis and Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Katey Zimmerman of Sound Rivers, emphasized concerns about the impact of data centers on water resources, rural character, quality of life, electricity demands, and noise pollution. Ellis highlighted that the withdrawal of a proposed data center project by Energy Storage Solutions in the Kingsboro area provided an opportunity for the county to critically evaluate future proposals. Zimmerman stressed the need for thoughtful planning and for the county to align its policies with evolving state-level regulations concerning data center impacts.
James Wrenn, a Democratic Party precinct chairman, rebutted claims that opposition was from a small group, pointing to widespread community concern and an election outcome where a candidate running on an anti-data center platform defeated an incumbent commissioner. Melanie Goff Bradley and Clark Joyner also spoke in favor of the moratorium, advocating for robust safeguards, regulations, and environmental protections. The moratorium aims to give county leaders time to study the industry, monitor state policy changes, engage the public, and strengthen local protections before considering new data center projects.