Weaverville council votes to block data centers in town, citing limited resources

Weaverville, N.C. – The Weaverville Town Council unanimously voted on Monday, April 27, to implement a code change aimed at preventing cryptocurrency mining operations from establishing in the town. Mayor Dee Lawrence stated that the decision was driven by concerns over the high energy and water demands of crypto mining, which could strain the town's limited local resources. This proactive measure comes as similar energy-intensive data centers have begun emerging across North Carolina, including in Cherokee and Rutherford counties. Town leaders expressed a desire to discourage any such developments from proposing projects in Weaverville, anticipating that the area might otherwise become attractive due to potentially cheap electrical costs.