Target 7: North Carolina Community Discusses Living Next to a Data Center
Residents in Lenoir, North Carolina, discuss living near Google's data center, which has operated in the community for nearly 20 years. The report highlights local concerns about noise, water demand, energy use and the broader effects of data center development, alongside the economic benefits the facility provides.
WDBJ7 reporter Madeleine Amonte visited Lenoir, North Carolina, home to a Google data center that has been operating for nearly two decades. The report examines how the facility affects nearby residents and businesses, including Duke, a local barber who views Google workers as important customers and credits the campus with bringing economic activity to the community.
The segment also documents broader anxiety in southwest Virginia and surrounding communities about data center growth. Residents have protested at local meetings and called on leaders to step down, citing concerns about noise, water consumption and heavy energy use. At the same time, local communities are seeking revenue to support schools and public safety, creating competing views about the financial benefits and environmental costs of data centers.