Orange County issues one-year pause on building new data centers in unanimous vote

The Orange County Board of Commissioners has enacted a one-year moratorium on the construction of new data centers within the county. The unanimous 6-0 vote on Tuesday, led by Board Chair Jean Hamilton, aims to provide time for the county to assess the environmental, infrastructural, and community impacts of large-scale data centers, including those used for artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency mining. The board also directed staff to begin preparing amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to define and regulate these facilities. This move by Orange County reflects a broader trend among municipalities in North Carolina. Just prior, the Vance County Board of Commissioners approved the rezoning of land for a potential data center despite significant community opposition. Last week, Apex leaders also voted for a temporary, one-year suspension on proposed data center developments. In April, the town of Wendell held a public hearing on a moratorium to proactively address anticipated growth in data center construction, while in March, the Wake County Board of Commissioners discussed plans and resources for data center developments.