Raleigh leaders to consider 6-month pause on data centers, mayor to speak Wednesday
Raleigh city leaders are considering a six-month moratorium on data center development due to public concerns over land, power, and water consumption. The city attorney is drafting the plan for discussion at an upcoming city council meeting, with Mayor Janet Cowell set to speak on the proposal.
Raleigh, North Carolina, city leaders are moving forward with plans to draft a six-month moratorium on new data center developments. This decision follows over a month of internal discussions and a closed session held by city officials on Tuesday. The proposed pause is in response to growing public concern regarding the significant land, power, and water consumption associated with data centers.
Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell is expected to address the proposed moratorium publicly on Wednesday morning. The drafted plan will be formally discussed at the next city council meeting scheduled for October 6, which will include a public hearing at 7 p.m. for residents to provide input.
The initiative follows similar actions taken by other North Carolina municipalities, including Durham, Greensboro, and Charlotte, which have also implemented temporary pauses on data center construction. Raleigh is currently the largest city in the state without such a moratorium. Mayor Pro Tem Jane Harrison emphasized the importance of residents understanding the city's approval process for data center projects, which typically involves industrial zoning and special use permits for larger facilities, while smaller "edge" data centers can be built by right.