Greensboro establishes 180-day data center moratorium
Greensboro City Council has approved a 180-day moratorium on new large-scale data center developments. This decision followed public hearings where residents voiced concerns over water usage, noise pollution, and the impact on the power grid and utility bills. The temporary pause will allow city staff to develop protective measures and regulations for future data center projects.
Greensboro City Council has enacted a 180-day moratorium on new large-scale data center developments following two days of public hearings. The moratorium specifically halts the acceptance, processing, or approval of applications for data centers requiring 10 megawatts of electrical power or more.
During the hearings, numerous residents voiced strong opposition and concerns. Many speakers advocated for a longer, 32-month pause, expressing anxieties about potential impacts on water usage, increased noise pollution, and strain on the power grid that could affect utility bills. Councilwoman April Parker assured the public that the moratorium provides an opportunity for city staff to develop protective measures for future data center projects.
The council plans to conduct a series of public work sessions with experts during this 6-month period to address the community's concerns and establish comprehensive regulations for data center development.