Fayetteville should pause data centers before harm is done | Opinion

Leisa Greathouse, vice president of Organizing Against Racism Cumberland County, penned an opinion piece in The Fayetteville Observer advocating for a moratorium on data center development in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The organization has formally raised its concerns to the Mayor and Fayetteville City Council, submitting an open letter in early March and reiterating their arguments during an April 6 public input session. They have yet to receive a response from city officials. The group questions the economic benefits of data centers, specifically highlighting a low number of jobs and the potential for increased utility rates for residents. Furthermore, Organizing Against Racism Cumberland County emphasizes the environmental risks, pointing to Fayetteville's existing challenges with environmental compliance, including issues at the Ann Street Landfill and a $10,000 fine levied against Fay Block for air quality violations in a predominantly African American neighborhood. They argue that unchecked industrial development, including data centers, could exacerbate air and water pollution, drawing parallels to past zoning decisions that negatively impacted the Fairview neighborhood. The organization urges the city to implement strict environmental and employment regulations and to learn from past mistakes to prevent history from repeating.