'Data centers are not priorities over citizens': Charlotte mulls policy as moratorium ticks away

Charlotte is currently at the midpoint of its 150-day data center moratorium, which is set to expire on November 5. The city recently hosted a town hall, moderated by City Council member-at-large Dimple Ajmera, bringing together city staff, environmental advocates, and industry representatives to discuss the future of data center development.

Key concerns raised during the event included the environmental impact of data centers, particularly their water and energy consumption, and their potential effect on local communities. Kevin McNulty, representing Digital Realty, a developer with a 156-acre site on Moores Chapel Road, addressed questions about infrastructure costs and the appropriateness of data center siting. Activist Toni Mingo expressed worries that new hyperscale facilities might disproportionately impact Charlotte's Black and brown communities, potentially lowering property values and exacerbating economic disparities.

Water usage was a prominent topic, with PowerHouse's University City facility planning to use 1.2 million gallons of reclaimed water per day, and Digital Realty's Moores Chapel site projected to use 35,000 gallons per day. Charlotte Water director Angela Charles emphasized that new economic development, including data centers, would not compromise existing residents' water access. However, Catawba Riverkeeper Brandon Jones highlighted that large data centers' energy demands indirectly strain the Catawba River basin, as power generation requires significant water. He called for data center developers to fund modeling to assess these impacts.

The moratorium currently blocks new rezoning requests and permits for data center renovations, though projects already under construction, such as those by Digital Realty and PowerHouse, are exempt. The City Council is expected to decide on new policies before the moratorium's expiration.