Waterways need protection more than ever; is new tech harmful or helpful?

A proposed $19 billion data center project by Energy Storage Solutions in the Kingsboro area of Edgecombe County, North Carolina, is drawing significant opposition from local residents and the environmental advocacy organization Sound Rivers. The facility, planned to be 900-megawatts and adjacent to a former QVC Network distribution center, is criticized for its potential to increase air pollution and consume excessive water, while bringing few jobs to the rural region. Samantha Krop, the Neuse Riverkeeper and director of advocacy with Sound Rivers, stated the organization is actively involved in community-led efforts to oppose large-scale data centers like the one proposed in Kingsboro, citing concerns for waterway protection. The Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River watersheds, covering nearly a quarter of North Carolina, are monitored by Sound Rivers through traditional sample collection and testing. While Sound Rivers primarily uses analog methods for water quality monitoring, several state universities, including NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, NC A&T, Wake Forest, North Carolina Central, Duke, and East Carolina University, are employing AI and machine learning to study and protect water quality, particularly in eastern North Carolina. These efforts focus on issues like groundwater pollutants, climate model biases, lead contamination, and algal blooms. The article highlights the precarious balancing act for leaders in rural eastern North Carolina: attracting much-needed jobs versus preserving the environment. Residents of Edgecombe County are clear that they are not willing to sacrifice air and water quality for the data center, emphasizing that polluted stormwater runoff is a major issue impacting the state's waterways, drinking water, and local industries.