Proposed data center in Walnut Cove set back to public hearing stage
A proposed data center in Walnut Cove, Stokes County, North Carolina, has been sent back to the public hearing stage due to procedural setbacks. Local residents are expressing heightened concerns about the project's massive scale, its potential 2000-megawatt electricity consumption, and noise generation. The developer, Nations Company, is revising its proposal to incorporate stricter standards and address community impacts.
A proposed data center development in Walnut Cove, Stokes County, North Carolina, has faced a procedural setback, necessitating a new series of public meetings. The initial public information hearing is scheduled in Danbury, the Stokes County seat. Residents of Walnut Cove, now more informed about data centers, are poised to ask more precise questions regarding the project's impacts.
Drew Nations, the developer from Nations Company, is preparing a second proposal for an 1800-acre project, with 1000 to 1200 acres designated for actual development. This vast scale is a point of concern for residents, who now better understand the project's magnitude. The proposed data center campus could consume up to 2000 megawatts of electricity, equivalent to the usage of over a million homes, and generate noise levels around 70 A-weighted decibels, comparable to moderate city traffic.
Nations emphasizes that the scale is crucial for the projected $40 million annually in tax revenue for Stokes County. He states that the revised proposal aims for tighter noise limits and additional measurement criteria to ensure the company acts as a "good neighbor." Nations Company is also collaborating with Duke Energy to finalize power delivery plans. Residents, however, are demanding more specific details from both the developer and local and state government entities, seeking clearer safeguards and assurances before construction proceeds. Officials from the Walnut Cove Town Mayor's office, Board of Commissioners, Stokes County Commissioners, and the State Representative were contacted, with county commissioners indicating they would comment after the meeting.