Protesters urge city to halt Charlotte data center proposal

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Residents and activist groups, including the Party for Socialism and Liberation, are actively opposing American Tower's proposal to build a 40,000 square-foot data center in east Charlotte, near the Reedy Creek Nature Preserve. Protesters gathered outside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center ahead of a Monday night zoning meeting, calling on city leaders to halt the project. Opponents voiced significant concerns regarding the data center's potential impact on the community, citing issues such as noise pollution, environmental damage, excessive water and electricity use, and a projected increase in utility prices. While the developer noted the facility would be smaller than many other data centers, protesters maintain that the burdens outweigh any benefits. In response to the growing public pressure, American Tower decided to postpone its rezoning request, which was originally scheduled for the recent meeting. The developer's request has since been rescheduled for consideration at the city council's May 18 meeting, allowing for further community engagement and deliberation on the contentious proposal.