Alamance County Enacts One-Year Data Center Moratorium
Alamance County commissioners have enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development in unincorporated areas after a public hearing. While some residents sought a longer ban, the commissioners believe the likelihood of rural data centers being built is low due to water and land requirements. The article suggests opposition should focus on municipal areas where infrastructure exists.
The Alamance County Board of Commissioners has approved a one-year moratorium on data center development within the county's unincorporated areas, following a public hearing where residents voiced concerns. Although many speakers advocated for a longer or permanent ban, the commissioners' decision temporarily halts any potential rural data center momentum. The article, however, downplays the likelihood of large-scale data centers establishing in truly rural parts of Alamance County, citing significant practical challenges such as the lack of dependable water and sewer infrastructure, which are primarily municipal services in the county. It notes that data centers require substantial water, making reliance on well water impractical for multi-billion dollar corporate entities.
The publication further points out an irony: local industrial recruiters historically sought water-intensive industries, and the county's three main cities (Burlington, Mebane, Graham) have ample water resources from their respective lakes. The loss of textile mills, which were heavy water users, has contributed to rising water rates for residential customers, suggesting that new industrial users could help stabilize rates. The article concludes that opponents of data centers might be better served by focusing their attention on potential developments within the county's three main municipalities, where necessary utility infrastructure exists. However, even in these areas, finding sufficient land (often 100-several hundred acres) for large data centers on the fringes or in extraterritorial jurisdictions might be challenging, potentially leading to competition with residential development. The piece also acknowledges the benefit of increased property tax revenues from data centers but notes their limited employment impact compared to traditional manufacturing.