Amazon Hamlet Data Center Air Permit Hearing
A public hearing is scheduled for July 30 in Rockingham, NC, concerning draft air permits for Amazon's Energy Way Tech Campus in Hamlet, Richmond County. These permits would allow Amazon and Duke Energy to install numerous diesel generators. Residents and environmental advocates are raising significant concerns about the potential for increased air pollution and adverse health impacts on an already vulnerable local population.
North Carolina environmental regulators are preparing for a public hearing on July 30 in Rockingham to discuss draft air permits for Amazon's extensive Energy Way Tech Campus in Hamlet, Richmond County. The permits, if finalized, would allow both Duke Energy and Amazon to install a substantial number of diesel generators on the site. These units would serve as temporary 'bridge power' during grid connection and as long-term emergency backups, with a proposed capacity of approximately 1,600 megawatts.
Neighbors and environmental advocates have expressed strong opposition, warning that adding such a significant amount of diesel power could exacerbate air quality issues in a census tract already identified as socially and health-vulnerable. Critics highlight that the area, with a higher-than-average Black and Indigenous population, faces existing health burdens, and additional emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and benzene could worsen respiratory and other health problems.
Duke Energy Progress has requested a permit modification to install 57 temporary diesel engines, while Amazon's filings seek permission for hundreds of emergency diesel engines. The proposed campus is located in an area flagged as potentially disadvantaged by state officials and highly burdened by the CDC Social Vulnerability Index. A community-health report cited in local coverage also noted Richmond County's low health ranking within North Carolina.
The air-quality hearing is seen as a critical opportunity for residents and regional groups to directly address state regulators and company representatives regarding health impacts, emissions, and the timeline for the campus's full grid integration. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality will consider all public comments submitted by July 31 before making a final decision on the draft permits. This debate unfolds amidst a broader context of surging electricity demand from data centers across North Carolina, putting pressure on utilities and regulators to expand grid capacity responsibly.