East Charlotte residents protest data center development during rezoning hearing

Residents in East Charlotte, North Carolina, recently protested a proposed data center development by American Towers, despite the rezoning hearing for the project being postponed. The protest, organized by Charlotte’s Party for Socialism and Liberation, saw approximately 15 people gather outside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Government Center. American Towers intends to build a small data center on a 10-acre portion of a 58-acre property it owns near the Reedy Creek Nature Preserve. A company representative stated that the facility would be significantly smaller than a hyperscale data center, consuming only 2% of the power of such larger facilities. However, residents like April Alexander voiced concerns about the data center's proximity to a residential neighborhood and the perceived lack of community input. Alexander emphasized the need for safeguards and more dialogue with the developers to address their anxieties. A city official confirmed that the petitioner had requested more time to engage with community members, yet residents at the protest reported no direct communication from American Towers regarding the project.