Triad debates data centers
Officials in Greensboro are debating a proposed moratorium on new data centers due to environmental and social concerns. Meanwhile, in Rural Hall, the town council approved a data center rezoning for Drox Group LLC, despite earlier opposition and a planning board recommendation against it, after the developer offered tax revenue benefits.
Elected officials across North Carolina's Triad region are actively discussing and debating the future of data center development. In Greensboro, District 2 Council member Cecile Crawford has called for a six-month moratorium on new data center construction, citing the need to study their impacts on communities. This proposal comes amidst broader discussions about the economic and environmental consequences of large data centers.
Greensboro Mayor Pro Tem Denise Roth faced criticism for defending the data center industry in an op-ed without fully disclosing her advisory roles with AI and infrastructure development firms, including CEG Solutions, the AI Trust Foundation, and Commonweal Ventures. Critics, including News & Record Editorial Page Editor Allen Johnson, argued these ties presented potential conflicts of interest, especially given Commonweal Ventures' portfolio company Palantir's controversial surveillance software used by ICE. Dr. Rania Masri of the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network highlighted concerns about data centers' massive water and electricity consumption, their impact on air quality, and their role in surveillance technologies, directly challenging Roth's economic justice arguments.
Further north, in Forsyth County, the Rural Hall Town Council made a controversial decision regarding a 130-acre "hyperscale data campus" proposed by Drox Group LLC. After initial public opposition and a unanimous resolution from the town council on April 13 to oppose rezoning, followed by a Forsyth County Planning Board recommendation to deny, the council reversed its stance on June 22 and voted to approve the rezoning. Mayor Terry Bennett and council member Mark Lane stated the decision was influenced by Drox Group's offer to annex the project into Rural Hall, providing significant tax revenue to the town, despite continued public outcry.