NC data center bill advances as Charlotte considers temporary moratorium
North Carolina lawmakers are advancing Senate Bill 730, which would impose new requirements on data centers regarding noise pollution and water usage, and fast-track nuclear power plants. Concurrently, the Charlotte City Council is set to vote on a 150-day moratorium on new data centers to allow time for developing local regulations.
North Carolina lawmakers are actively pursuing legislation to establish new requirements for data centers across the state. Senate Bill 730, which recently passed the North Carolina House, mandates that data center cooling systems minimize water usage and developers assess potential noise impacts on nearby residential areas and schools. The bill also contains a controversial provision to fast-track new nuclear power plants proposed by Duke Energy, a point of contention for some Democrats, including state Rep. Jordan Lopez.
Concurrently, the Charlotte City Council is scheduled to vote on a 150-day moratorium on new data center projects within the city. City Councilman JD Mazuera Arias supports the proposed temporary pause, citing concerns about data centers' water consumption during a drought and their placement near residential neighborhoods. Arias clarified that the moratorium is not a permanent ban but an opportunity to develop appropriate regulations to prevent data centers from being built in residential areas.
The state bill now returns to the Senate for further consideration. If the Senate rejects the House's version of the bill, it will be sent back to committee. This dual effort at state and local levels highlights growing scrutiny over data center development practices in North Carolina.