Fact Check: Where Michael Whatley and Roy Cooper stand on data centers
North Carolina's growing data center industry has become a key issue in the U.S. Senate race, with candidates Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley taking opposing stances. Several municipalities, including Charlotte, have enacted moratoriums on new data center construction due to community backlash. Candidates are addressing concerns regarding power consumption, water usage, and the financial impact on local residents.
The rapid expansion of data centers in North Carolina has emerged as a significant topic in the state's contested U.S. Senate race between former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley. Data center projects have incited widespread bipartisan opposition, prompting several North Carolina municipalities, including Charlotte, to implement moratoriums on new construction as they assess long-term strategies.
Roy Cooper's campaign pledges to ensure data centers cover the full cost of their power usage, preventing these expenses from being passed to consumers. His campaign spokesman, Jordan Monaghan, affirmed that Cooper supports local communities having the final say on new projects, including the authority to impose moratoriums. This aligns with his platform emphasizing local involvement in development decisions.
Conversely, Michael Whatley, as conveyed by his campaign spokesman DJ Griffin, believes that while tax breaks for data centers are reasonable, direct subsidies are not. He stressed the importance of data centers "paying their own way" by purchasing or building their required megawatts and funding all grid upgrades without burdening residential ratepayers. Whatley also expressed skepticism regarding the organic nature of opposition to data centers, suggesting it is being "ginned up," while still acknowledging the need to prevent disparate impacts on communities concerning water, traffic, and electricity.