Moss issues statement on data center development in Richmond County

North Carolina Rep. Ben Moss, representing Richmond County, released a statement to address public concerns and clarify his legislative record regarding data center developments in the county. Moss stated he had no involvement in the recruitment or negotiation of Project Blue Marlin, which was later revealed to be an Amazon data center complex south of Hamlet.

He highlighted his support for Senate Bill 730, also known as the Ratepayer Protection Act. This bill, which passed the House and is currently in the Senate Rules Committee, includes new requirements for large data centers regarding water conservation, community-impact assessments, and protections against shifting electricity costs to consumers. The provisions mandate site assessments for sound profiles near residential areas and schools, allow local governments to require assessments on water, air quality, thermal plumes, and other community impacts, and require closed-loop or liquid cooling systems for water minimization. The bill also prohibits data center ownership by adversarial foreign governments.

Moss also noted his vote for a 2026 state budget provision that eliminated the sales tax exemption on electricity used by data centers. Furthermore, he addressed a property he formerly owned on Old Cheraw Highway, which was recently proposed as a data center site. The property was annexed and rezoned for high-density residential use in 2025, and the Rockingham City Council is slated to schedule a public hearing for the proposed data center.

These developments come amid significant local backlash, with Richmond County residents expressing concerns about data centers' water and power usage and potential pollution. One resident has initiated an online petition calling for a 12-month moratorium on data center development in the county.