Pulaski County delays vote on proposed data center regulations
The Pulaski County Quorum Court delayed a vote on proposed regulations for large-scale data centers in unincorporated areas. These regulations would require a conditional use permit, a 500-foot buffer from homes, and studies on environmental, power, water, and traffic impacts. The delay comes amid strong resident opposition and concerns from the county judge about a potential lawsuit from an existing data center company if the rules pass.
The Pulaski County Quorum Court has postponed a vote on new regulations for large-scale data centers in unincorporated areas, instead moving the ordinance to the first of three readings before a final decision. This development follows months of public concern regarding the potential impact of such projects on local water resources, power grids, and neighboring communities.
The proposed ordinance aims to classify data centers as heavy industrial use, necessitating a conditional use permit for new constructions or expansions in unincorporated zones. Key requirements include a 500-foot buffer from homes and residential lots, along with detailed studies on power and water demand, traffic, drainage, fire safety, battery systems, and noise. Developers would also be responsible for funding independent expert reviews for these impact studies, ensuring unbiased assessments, and must provide a decommissioning plan with financial assurance for future cleanup and restoration. Julie Black, a sponsor of the ordinance, emphasized that these measures are intended to ensure smart and regulated development.
The proposed rules specifically highlight the AVAIO Data Center project in Wrightsville, which has faced prior criticism regarding its review process. The ordinance clarifies that preliminary approvals or investments made by a project do not grandfather it from these new regulations. Residents, who feel they were excluded from the approval process for the existing project, expressed frustration over the delayed vote. The county judge also raised concerns that the passage of these regulations could result in a lawsuit from the existing data center company, which has already commenced ground-breaking activities.