North Carolina Faces Data Center Backlash, Moratoriums
North Carolinians are experiencing significant opposition to data center development, with over 30 local governments, including Charlotte, implementing temporary moratoriums. Critics raise concerns about water and electricity usage, but the article advocates for a fact-based evaluation of data centers' local effects. The author warns against letting fear and potentially foreign-influenced online hysteria drive policy decisions.
North Carolina is experiencing a significant increase in public opposition to data center development, mirroring a national trend where 75% of Americans now oppose a data center near their homes, up from 42% a year ago. This backlash stems from various concerns, including perceived associations with "woke" ideology or "Big Tech," alarming claims about water use, and aesthetic or noise issues. The author, Donna King, editor in chief for the Carolina Journal, suggests that this opposition is becoming a proxy for broader discomfort with artificial intelligence.
Adding to the complexity, OpenAI recently identified a China-origin group generating online content critical of US data centers, indicating potential foreign exploitation of the domestic debate. In response to the growing concerns, over 30 North Carolina local governments, including Charlotte, have reportedly imposed temporary moratoriums on data center development between February and July 2026, with Charlotte approving a 150-day pause.
The article challenges common criticisms, noting that while electricity demand from data centers could double or triple by 2028, according to the US Department of Energy, these facilities are crucial for future advancements. Claims regarding excessive water usage are also scrutinized, with the author highlighting that actual consumption is often lower than permitted amounts and that water use can be managed and evaluated against local supplies. Knud Berthelsen, an AI expert from Tulane University, emphasized data centers' efficiency and the non-polluting nature of their water usage.
King advocates for critical thinking over online hysteria, urging North Carolinians to evaluate data centers based on facts and their local effects. She suggests that issues like noise and visibility should be addressed through objective local standards for setbacks, sound levels, and landscaping, similar to other industrial developments. The author concludes that data centers should compete fairly for resources without special taxpayer subsidies or penalties, and that critical thinking, not fear, should guide development decisions.