Durham mayor supports data center moratorium

Durham Mayor Leo Williams has expressed his support for a moratorium on large-scale data centers, citing several concerns. According to the Mayor, these "megawatt data centers" consume significant land, offer limited job opportunities, and strain the local power grid and water resources. He advocates for a different economic development strategy, prioritizing businesses that integrate into the community and provide more accessible and well-paying jobs for Durham residents. Mayor Williams highlighted the successful recruitment of AbbVie, an Illinois-based biopharmacy company, as an example of the preferred type of investment. The new AbbVie site in Durham is expected to create 800 jobs, which he described as high-paying with a lower barrier of entry for local residents. He emphasized that local government must view economic development as a "jigsaw puzzle," carefully selecting employers that become part of the city's fabric rather than just focusing on immediate financial gains.