Data center proposed in northern Lee County
Developers PointOne and Helix Ventures have proposed a 300,000 sq ft data center in northern Lee County, NC, to be operated by CyrusOne. The project is currently in the permit application phase and is valued at $900 million, promising significant tax revenue. It follows local controversy over data centers, which led to new county-wide regulations.
A 300,000 square foot data center facility, slated to be owned and operated by Dallas-based CyrusOne, has been proposed in northern Lee County, North Carolina. Developers PointOne and Helix Ventures have applied for a permit for the project on 56 acres off Lower Moncure Road. The facility is expected to have a 90 megawatt IT load and represents a significant tax base investment, valued at $900 million for the building alone, potentially generating over $1 million annually in local tax revenue without incentives.
Katy Hancock, CyrusOne's vice president of community affairs, stated the facility will utilize a closed-loop cooling system requiring 250,000 gallons of water, to be supplied by CyrusOne and reused indefinitely without discharge. Central Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC) is constructing a substation adjacent to the site, with CyrusOne contributing significantly to its capital costs. Kelsey Fehr of PointOne indicated this project is "phase one" of a larger 430-acre development, though future phases are not guaranteed to be data centers. The facility is expected to create 30-40 permanent jobs and numerous construction roles, with operations projected to begin in 2028 if permitted, with work starting in the fall.
The proposal arises amidst prior local controversy regarding data centers in Lee County, including public "uproar" and residents pushing for a moratorium in late 2025 following interest from a company called Deep River Data. This led local leaders to adopt new rules governing data centers in Sanford and Lee County, which notably banned fracking-associated data centers. The current project's permit application includes an acoustic report showing noise levels within local limits.