Bertie County Officials Consider Ordinance to Regulate Potential Data Center Development
Bertie County officials are considering a proposed ordinance to regulate data center development before any facilities are built. The proposal would address potential tax benefits, infrastructure costs, electricity capacity, water access, environmental impacts and effects on residents, with the article urging the county to form an exploratory advisory committee.
Bertie County Planning Director Traci White and Planning Board Chair Gayle King presented county commissioners with a proposed data center ordinance. Bertie County currently has no data center restrictions, but officials have received inquiries about its regulations as developers search for potential locations.
The proposal would allow the county to establish rules before development begins and examine issues including tax revenue, electric capacity, infrastructure costs, jobs, water access and community impacts. Managing Editor John Foley argued that commissioners should create a citizens advisory committee to study data centers and help the county prepare for negotiations with prospective developers, while acknowledging that no specific project has yet been proposed.