Town of Cary considering putting a pause on new data center construction
Cary Town Council is actively considering a temporary pause on new data center construction following a late-night discussion. Concerns center on the potential impacts to water usage, energy costs, and land. Other nearby counties have already implemented similar moratoriums.
The Cary Town Council held a late-night discussion, lasting past 11 p.m., to consider a pause on new data center development within the town. Mayor Pro Tem Lori Bush initiated the discussion, emphasizing the need for more research into how data centers would affect local water use, energy costs, and land.
Bush highlighted specific concerns about the impact on Jordan Lake, which serves as a drinking water source for over 700,000 customers, noting that large-scale data centers require a substantial amount of water for cooling. She described the proposed pause as a "wise decision" to ensure the town acts as good neighbors. The next steps for the town would involve determining the duration of any potential pause, followed by a public hearing and then a vote. The report also mentioned that other counties in the region, including Wake, Durham, and Cumberland, have already enacted temporary moratoriums on data center development.