Boone still considered for new data center despite moratorium
Despite the Boone County Board of Supervisors enacting a data center moratorium, the city of Boone is now a finalist for a new Lightedge colocation facility. The moratorium only applies to unincorporated areas of the county, not within city limits where the Lightedge project is proposed. Residents had previously petitioned the county due to concerns about a rumored hyperscale data center.
The Boone County Board of Supervisors recently enacted a one-year moratorium on data centers following a petition signed by hundreds of residents. Chairman Erich Kretzinger noted that residents expressed concerns about a potential hyperscale data center on agricultural land.
However, just a day after the moratorium passed, the Boone County Economic Development Corporation announced that Boone is a finalist for a new Lightedge colocation facility. Kretzinger clarified that the moratorium would not impact the Lightedge project because it is planned for land within Boone city limits, which falls outside the county board's jurisdiction.
Brenda Dryer, Executive Director of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation, explained that the proposed Lightedge facility would occupy 10 acres in the Boone Business Park, an area already equipped with necessary infrastructure. Dryer highlighted the financial benefits, noting Lightedge's existing Altoona facilities contribute significant property taxes, with a similar positive impact expected in Boone without the need for financial incentives. She also emphasized that the Lightedge colocation would be a smaller, low-water-use facility, differing from the hyperscale data centers that raised public concern.
While a preliminary agreement has been reached between the Boone County Economic Growth Corporation and Lightedge, other locations are still under consideration.