Wendell Puts One-Year Pause on Data Centers to Study Impact on Infrast...

The Town of Wendell in North Carolina has approved a one-year moratorium on new data center development. Town commissioners voted to halt potential approvals to allow staff, led by Planning Director Bryan Coates, sufficient time to study the impacts of these facilities on public infrastructure, environmental resources, land use compatibility, and community character. The pause is intended to enable the town to rewrite its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), as current regulations do not adequately define data center uses. According to Board member Dustin Ingalls, this is a proactive measure, not a reaction to any specific data center proposal, with Coates confirming no applications have been submitted. This action by Wendell reflects a broader regional trend. Nearby Apex is also considering a similar one-year moratorium, with Mayor Pro-Tem Terry Mahaffey noting it would allow staff to develop clear policies without the pressure of active applications. In contrast, Person County officials have expressed support for a planned Microsoft data center, citing economic benefits like job creation and an expanded tax base. The differing approaches highlight an ongoing debate in North Carolina concerning the significant electricity and water demands of data centers versus their potential economic and grid stabilization benefits, as suggested by a Duke University study.