Greensboro city leaders take a closer look at potential data center opportunities, impacts during work session
Greensboro city leaders are evaluating data center development opportunities and impacts during work sessions. Despite voting against a moratorium, the city council is actively drafting new ordinances to address concerns like environmental impact, electricity demand, water usage, and zoning regulations. The goal is to create fact-based policies to guide future data center proposals in the city.
Greensboro city leaders are actively exploring the implications of data center development on the city's future, holding work sessions to educate council members on potential economic benefits and infrastructure impacts. The discussion follows a 5-4 vote against a data center moratorium, with the council emphasizing a commitment to gathering facts before adopting new regulations.
According to Councilwoman Tammi Thurm, additional educational work sessions are planned to establish a "sound, fact-based foundation" for an ordinance that protects the community and supports future growth. These policies will address critical concerns such as electricity demand, water use, and specific zoning rules covering setbacks, noise, lighting, and buffers.
Councilwoman Crystal Black highlighted environmental impact as a significant concern among residents, particularly regarding data centers potentially being concentrated in industrial areas of districts one, two, and five. She stressed the importance of ensuring equitable distribution and environmental consciousness to avoid disproportionately affecting certain communities. Black noted that while the moratorium was rejected, council members who supported it will continue to work on developing safeguards and learning from other communities.
City leaders' current focus is on creating comprehensive policies to guide any future data center proposals. The previously approved Dream Center project at Gateway Research Park, a smaller data center approved in 2022, will not be impacted by these upcoming ordinances.