Alamance County commissioners approve 1-year data center moratorium

Alamance County commissioners in North Carolina unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data center developments following a public hearing. Community members addressed their local leaders, sharing concerns about data centers and urging for stricter regulation.

FOX8's Maxwell reported from the County Historical Courthouse in Graham, where the public hearing took place. The room was packed with residents, many displaying "No Data Center" stickers and pins. While some residents acknowledged potential benefits, the majority pressed commissioners to consider a moratorium longer than the initial six-month proposal, with many suggesting a two-year period for large-scale data centers requiring at least 10 megawatts of electricity.

Residents cited worries about health issues, noise pollution, and increased utility bills. They also raised questions about who would bear the cost of the significant power generation needed for such facilities. Concerns about future zoning regulations for data centers were also a prominent point of discussion among the community members who spoke at the podium. Anchors Katie Nordea and Michael Hennessey covered the discussion.