North Carolina Resident Calls for Data Center Moratorium Amidst Vance County Opposition

A North Carolina resident has formally requested a one-year statewide moratorium on data center development, urging state and local leaders to pause new projects to allow for comprehensive public engagement and debriefing. The resident emphasizes the need for transparency from board members and city officials, advocating for citizens to be fully informed on crucial aspects such as cooling methods, water use, generator impacts, pollution and noise mitigation, tax incentives, infrastructure upgrades, potential utility bill increases, and employment opportunities. This call for a moratorium follows a recent decision by the Vance County Board of Commissioners, who, on April 20, approved a rezoning request for a land parcel on Business 158 to light industrial, intended for a data center. The developer, Natelli, is proposing to build the facility in Henderson, a move met with significant citizen disapproval. Natelli had previously withdrawn a data center proposal in Apex due to community concerns. A petition created by Jazzmin Hazam to halt data center construction in Henderson has garnered nearly 950 signatures, highlighting ongoing local opposition.