New Charlotte-area data center dispute involves old farmland off I-85

Residents in Rowan County, North Carolina, are mounting significant opposition to a proposed data center development on nearly 400 acres of former farmland along Long Ferry Road in Salisbury. The controversy began after county commissioners quietly rezoned the property in October 2025 to allow for data center usage, a move swiftly followed by the purchase of the former Carlton Farms site by EDC Charlotte LLC, a firm linked to the data center developer Edged. The opposition, spearheaded by residents like Adam Parnell and Sal Cerbone, has manifested in an online petition that garnered nearly 3,000 signatures by late March, a dedicated Facebook page, and a GoFundMe campaign that raised $1,200 to influence commissioners. Concerns articulated by residents include significant environmental impact, potential pollution, high water usage, increased electric bills, and a sharp decline in property values. During a March 16 commissioner’s meeting, Chairman Greg Edds, while generally discussing AI data centers, stated, "Watch my lips, there is no data center deal," despite the county having already ratified a conditional zoning amendment permitting such construction in October 2025. Edged, a subsidiary of Endeavour, is a global data center developer with projects across multiple continents and existing or planned facilities in various U.S. metros, including Dallas, Atlanta, and Chicago. Although the land has been acquired and zoning approved, no formal data center project has yet been submitted for approval in Rowan County, keeping the community on edge.