Northampton residents win 32‑month pause on data centers

Northampton County, North Carolina, has joined a growing list of communities by enacting a 32-month moratorium on data center development. The unanimous vote by county commissioners on May 4th followed intense public pressure from residents concerned about the industry's impacts and past issues with transparency in local decision-making. Initially, commissioners planned to vote on a 12-month ban, a move that prompted community activist Belinda Joyner to challenge their process during the public comment period, arguing that residents' input was being disregarded. However, by the end of the evening, commissioners were swayed by the community's demand for a longer pause, with Joyner having presented a petition bearing approximately 300 local signatures. Kasey Moraveck, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, advised officials that a moratorium would provide crucial time to amend zoning codes to specifically address data centers. She advocated for requiring special-use permits and restricting data centers to heavy industrial districts to mitigate impacts on rural and residential areas, citing concerns about continuous noise, resource use, and the aesthetic of warehouse-style buildings. Retired judge Alfred Kwasikpui also raised concerns about transparency, noting that a previously approved advisory board to develop data center ordinances had never been formed, leading to distrust among residents and the drafting of developer-favorable ordinances without citizen input. Commissioners Melvetta Broadnax Taylor and Keedra Whitaker acknowledged past missteps and the need for greater transparency. Whitaker, in particular, advocated strongly for the longer moratorium, stating she wouldn't vote for a one-year pause that would likely need extension and emphasized the importance of listening to citizens and demonstrating commitment and trust. Residents leaving the meeting expressed satisfaction with the vote and the pledge to establish an advisory committee that will include community members during the moratorium period, hoping to draft guidelines that benefit the county.