Amazon’s Richmond County data center gets green light on air quality permits
The North Carolina Division of Air Quality has issued air quality permits for Amazon's controversial data center project in Richmond County. These permits cover backup power generation for Amazon and construction generators for Duke Energy. The decision comes despite significant public concern raised at a recent public hearing regarding potential air pollution from diesel generators.
State regulators in North Carolina have granted air quality permits for a contentious Amazon data center in Richmond County. The North Carolina Division of Air Quality issued two permits: one for Amazon's backup power generators and another for Duke Energy's generators, which will be used during the construction phase.
Reid Wilson, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, acknowledged considerable public concern regarding these projects. He affirmed the department's commitment to air quality protection and assured that both Amazon and Duke Energy must adhere to all permit requirements.
The decision follows a "raucous" public hearing last month, attended by over 200 Richmond County residents. Concerns were raised that dividing the diesel generators across two permits could lead to increased smog in nearby communities. The permits allow Duke Energy to run 57 diesel generators for a year during construction, while Amazon plans to operate 588 backup generators primarily for maintenance and power outages.