Stokes County to decide on new rezoning application for data center
Stokes County commissioners are set to decide on a new rezoning application for a massive 1800-acre data center campus called Project Delta near Walnut Cove. This decision follows a previous legal and zoning dispute regarding the project. Local leaders are weighing the project's economic benefits against its demands on power, water, and infrastructure.
Stokes County commissioners are scheduled to vote on a rezoning application for "Project Delta," a proposed 1800-acre data center campus in Walnut Cove, near the Dan River and Blues Creek. The project has already faced significant legal and zoning challenges in the past. Board officials declined to comment before the Tuesday vote.
This discussion is part of a broader conversation in the Triad region concerning data center development. In July, Stokes County commissioners rejected a six-month moratorium on new data center projects. However, Alamance County commissioners subsequently approved a one-year moratorium, and Greensboro City Council enacted a 180-day moratorium on data centers requiring over a certain megawatt threshold, despite calls from speakers for a longer pause.
Local leaders are balancing the potential tax revenue and economic development from data centers against concerns regarding their significant demands on electricity, water, and other infrastructure. Citizens have also raised questions about environmental impacts on wildlife and water levels. The outcome of tonight's decision in Stokes County will reflect the community's stance on data center growth and associated conditions.