‘Nobody wants it here’: Rowan County residents rail against data centers at Duke Energy hearing

State regulators held a public hearing at the Rowan County Courthouse in Salisbury, North Carolina, to gather feedback on Duke Energy's proposal to build two new combustion turbines, known as "peakers," at its Buck Energy Complex. These turbines are designed for use during peak energy demand hours. Residents largely opposed the new construction, questioning the addition of new infrastructure while Duke Energy is still cleaning up its onsite coal ash pond, a process not expected to conclude until 2035. Salisbury resident Shannon Solomon highlighted concerns about the utility's incomplete cleanup efforts. Barbara Mallett, mayor of East Spencer, voiced support for the new peaker turbine, believing it would enhance energy reliability in her town, referencing improved service during a recent snowstorm. However, many residents at the hearing displayed anti-data center signs, directly linking the proposed turbines to future data center development. They expressed unwillingness to bear the cost of powering large corporations. The article noted that EDC Charlotte LLC, managed by Scott Silverman, CFO of data center developer Edged, purchased land on Long Ferry Road, near the Buck Creek Steam Station, last November. This acquisition has fueled local opposition, with residents starting a petition to prevent data center development in Rowan County. Salisbury resident Salvatore Cerbone questioned why they should pay for future power generation for AI data centers that "nobody wants." Duke Energy's forecast indicates a potential 13% increase in winter energy peaks by 2030, partly due to energy-intensive data centers moving to the state.