Natelli files site plan for 900 MW data center
Natelli Holdings filed a site plan for a 900 MW data center in Vance County, North Carolina, just as the county board was discussing a 60-day moratorium on data center development. The filing has sparked immediate opposition from a citizen group, Kerr Regional Citizen Voices, which views it as an attempt to preempt new regulations. The proposed data center would span 4 million square feet across 530 acres, and the developer has addressed community concerns regarding sound, emissions, water use, and electricity.
Natelli Holdings has filed a site plan for a massive 900 MW data center in Vance County, North Carolina, just as the Board of County Commissioners was considering a 60-day moratorium on data center development. The preliminary plan details 12 buildings totaling 4 million square feet on nearly 530 acres, with entrances on Technology Lane and US 158. This filing comes despite the county's active discussions to strengthen data center regulations, which the Planning Board tabled for further review.
Tom Natelli, representing Natelli Holdings, stated in a letter to the commissioners that the company "reluctantly" submitted the plan due to the moratorium discussions. He indicated that while many proposed regulations are workable, some would require refinement. Natelli also acknowledged community concerns regarding sound, emissions, water use, electricity bills, groundwater contamination, and visual impacts, pledging to address these through community meetings and extensive work with Duke Energy to ensure the site's proper energization without adverse local effects.
The filing has drawn sharp criticism from Kerr Regional Citizen Voices, a local opposition group. The group characterized Natelli's action as "an attempt to block the efforts of Vance County to update the current UDO and to enact a moratorium." This group was formed to protect natural resources and oppose both Natelli’s project and another proposed by Engineered Land Solutions, asserting that the region is not for sale to hyperscale data center developers.