Cary Town Council Approves Data Center Moratorium
The Cary Town Council in North Carolina unanimously adopted an 18-month moratorium on new large-scale data center developments. This pause will allow the town to develop comprehensive rules addressing land use, water, electricity, and noise concerns. The decision follows similar actions by other communities in the Triangle area and North Carolina.
The Cary Town Council in North Carolina has unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on new large-scale data center developments, establishing the longest such pause in the Triangle region. This decision came after a public hearing where residents, including Anne Schrader Stephens, expressed concerns about the potential environmental and water impacts of data centers. While one speaker, Michael Morris, opposed the pause, the council moved forward with the temporary ban.
Council members, including Michelle Craig and Bella Huang, emphasized that the moratorium is not meant to prevent data center development entirely, but rather to provide the town with 18 months to establish clear regulations. Cary's current land-development rules lack specific definitions or standards for data centers regarding land use, water consumption for cooling, electricity demand, noise, and vibration. Heather Whelehan, Cary's planning and community development director, noted the rising demand for data centers driven by cloud computing and AI, and the region's appeal to developers.
During the moratorium, town staff will conduct studies on land-use and infrastructure impacts, seek community input, and collaborate with regional partners to propose permanent regulations. Mayor Pro Tem Lori Bush highlighted potential water issues, referencing Jordan Lake as a shared water source for multiple municipalities. Other North Carolina communities, such as Apex, Holly Springs, Durham County, Northampton County, Murphy, and Clay County, have also enacted similar pauses or prohibitions on data center development.