Residents voice support for Newport’s moratorium approval on data center
The Newport Town Council has approved a one-year moratorium on data center development, giving officials time to update regulations. Residents largely support the decision, citing concerns over water resources and environmental impact. Beaufort County is also considering a similar moratorium.
The Newport Town Council in Eastern North Carolina has enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development. Local residents, including those interviewed by WITN reporter Elise Sandlin, expressed strong support for the decision, hoping to prevent any data center construction in the area.
Concerns among residents primarily revolve around the environmental impact of data centers, particularly their extensive water usage for cooling and operations. One resident stated, "I find nothing good about them. They drain our water resources to keep them cool, to keep them operating."
The moratorium provides Newport officials an opportunity to study and evaluate how data centers and related facilities should be addressed within the town's development regulations. Officials plan to undertake a comprehensive rewrite of the unified development ordinance, which currently lacks specific standards for data center development. This review will consider potential locations, development standards, and other regulations to mitigate their impacts. The town clarified that the moratorium does not permanently prohibit data centers but pauses development while new rules are drafted.
In a related development, Beaufort County officials have postponed their meeting to vote on a similar data center moratorium until October, with many residents there also advocating for a delay in such developments.