Beaufort County commissioners holding public hearing & vote on data center moratorium
Beaufort County commissioners are holding a public hearing and will vote on a proposed one-year moratorium on new or expanded data centers. Residents have raised concerns about noise, emissions and electricity costs, with some calling for a moratorium longer than one year.
Beaufort County commissioners in North Carolina are scheduled to hear public comment and vote on a proposed one-year moratorium on data center development. The measure would pause construction or expansion of large computing facilities used to support artificial intelligence.
The hearing was postponed from the previous month to allow additional community input. Residents who spoke at an informal hearing expressed support for the moratorium and cited potential noise pollution, emissions and higher electricity costs; some advocated for a longer pause. The meeting is scheduled in Washington at the county commissioners’ chambers.