Moore County Weighs Whether Its Infrastructure Can Support a Data Center
Moore County has access to power, water, fiber and land that could attract a data center, but officials have not determined whether those resources can support a specific large facility. The Metro Council approved a two-year moratorium on data centers and is considering rules governing zoning, water use, cooling systems, noise, setbacks and backup power.
Moore County has several infrastructure assets sought by data center developers, including TVA transmission infrastructure, municipal water supplies, multiple fiber networks and available land. However, officials have not conducted an engineering study for a specific site, and the article says power delivery, water availability, fiber redundancy and infrastructure costs would need to be evaluated before any project could proceed.
The Moore County Metro Council approved a moratorium on new data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations and similar high-impact computing facilities through April 19, 2028. During the pause, the Planning and Zoning Commission is considering placing facilities in heavy industrial areas and imposing requirements for setbacks, building height, cooling systems, water consumption and noise. Potential rules include closed-loop cooling, a water-use limit and nighttime noise restrictions, but none of the proposed rules represents approval of a project.