Rowan County residents demand transparency from officials over suspected data center project

A group of Rowan County, North Carolina residents is demanding transparency from local leaders regarding a rapidly developing 400-acre site they suspect is slated for a data center. Neighbors, including Salvatore Cerebone Jr., describe the extensive land clearing of former farmland as "dystopian" and have expressed frustration over the lack of clear answers from county officials about the project's true nature. A petition started by residents to demand more information and transparency has garnered over 3,000 signatures. Property records indicate the site is owned by EDC Charlotte LLC, whose manager, Scott Silverman, is also the chief financial officer for Edged, a data center development company. Residents, like Samantha Haspel, claim their requests for a moratorium on the project have been "brushed aside" by county leaders. This comes as other North Carolina communities, such as Boone, are proactively adopting moratoriums to consider data center regulations, as noted by Boone Mayor Dalton George. In response to inquiries, Rowan County leaders provided public documents but did not confirm the project's nature. The county states that no further Board of Commissioners approvals are required for the current use of the property, and that an extensive review process since 2021 included six properly noticed zoning public hearings. They emphasize full compliance with statutory requirements and local ordinances, as well as a commitment to transparency and public engagement, with the Rowan County Economic Development Corporation proactively examining potential impacts. Rowan County residents, organized by individuals like Shannon Solomon, are planning to attend the county commissioners meeting on April 20 to publicly voice their ongoing concerns.