The data center boom — and its tax promises — run into rural resistance in North Carolina
Residents of Walnut Cove, Stokes County, North Carolina, are actively opposing Project Delta, a proposed massive data center by Engineered Land Solutions. Following public backlash and a lawsuit, the Stokes County Board of Commissioners voided its initial zoning approval, restarting the permitting process. The community raises concerns about environmental impacts, historical preservation, and quality of life, while proponents highlight potential tax revenue.
The rural community of Walnut Cove in Stokes County, North Carolina, is at the center of a heated dispute over Project Delta, a proposed 1,845-acre data center by developer Engineered Land Solutions. Residents, who have a history of resisting large industrial developments, are strongly opposing the project, citing fears of pollution, noise, water depletion, increased energy prices, and the destruction of culturally significant land, including Native American burial sites and historic migration routes. The proposed site along the Dan River holds deep historical value for the Saura Native American tribe and descendants of enslaved people.
In January, the Stokes County Board of Commissioners initially approved the project's rezoning request, with some commissioners tearfully defending the decision as a necessary economic boost for the financially distressed county, which could see up to $40 million in annual tax revenue. However, facing a significant public backlash, a petition with thousands of signatures, and a lawsuit filed by residents with the help of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, the all-Republican board reversed its decision in April. The commissioners voided the initial rezoning approval and announced a restart of the permitting process, acknowledging flaws in the original public notice requirements.
Engineered Land Solutions, through spokesperson Pat Ryan and CEO Drew Nations, has committed to environmental protections, including a closed-loop cooling system and avoiding 850 acres to preserve archaeological areas, and projects 250-500 jobs. Despite these assurances and the promised tax benefits, opposition remains strong and bipartisan, with residents accusing commissioners of a lack of transparency and prioritizing profit over community well-being. The fight for Project Delta continues, with the county panel potentially revisiting the issue in July and residents pushing for a local data center moratorium. The article also notes a broader trend of increasing public resistance to data centers in rural areas, with many North Carolina counties enacting moratoriums and state lawmakers considering stricter regulations and phasing out tax exemptions.