Statesville unanimously approves 180-day moratorium on data centers: What we know
Statesville City Council unanimously approved a 180-day moratorium on new data center construction, effective immediately. This decision followed a public hearing where many spoke in favor of the pause. The moratorium will not affect data centers that were previously approved.
The Statesville City Council in North Carolina unanimously approved a 180-day moratorium on new data center construction. The decision was finalized on Monday, September 14, following a second reading vote. This moratorium will halt the acceptance, processing, and approval of new development applications for data centers within the city limits.
The measure, which expanded from an initial proposal of 150 days, was met with strong public support during a packed public hearing in August, where 15 individuals spoke in favor of the ban. However, the moratorium explicitly states that it will not impact any data center projects that had already received approval prior to its enactment.
This move by Statesville follows similar actions taken by other localities in the region, including Charlotte and Waxhaw, which have also approved moratoriums on data center development. The article notes that data center construction has become a contentious issue nationally, largely due to concerns over potential environmental impacts, particularly regarding water and electricity consumption.