‘We don’t want to be hustled’: NC communities push back on AI data centers

A lawsuit has been filed in Stokes County Superior Court challenging the Stokes County Board of Commissioners' January decision to rezone a nearly 2,000-acre parcel along the Dan River for heavy industrial use, intended for a proposed data center called Project Delta. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice and the Southern Environmental Law Center are representing local residents and groups including the National Hairston Clan, CleanAIRE NC, and 7 Directions of Service. They argue the rezoning lacked procedural safeguards and reasoned decision-making, despite overwhelming constituent opposition. This legal challenge underscores a growing statewide movement in North Carolina where communities are resisting a surge in data center developments. Concerns center on the potential strain on water resources, noise and light pollution, increased utility costs, and the impact of generators on air quality, which advocates say can worsen health conditions like asthma. Organizations like CleanAIRE NC and 7 Directions of Service highlight potential health and environmental impacts, citing examples from communities near existing data centers. Advocates emphasize the need for robust regulatory oversight, noting North Carolina's limited water withdrawal permits for industries. The North Carolina Data Center Convening, hosted by the NC Environmental Justice Network, brought together over 60 community and advocacy group members in Greensboro to strategize a statewide pushback, including working towards a state-wide ban on hyperscale data centers and cryptomining. They are calling for a pause on data center development until necessary protections are established. Currently, at least four North Carolina jurisdictions—Gates County, Chatham County, the town of Canton, and the city of Brevard—have approved temporary data center moratoriums, with Apex, Boone, and Orange County considering similar measures. Additionally, a recent state law, tucked into the 2024 Disaster Recovery Act, complicates efforts for local governments to 'down-zone' properties, making it harder to reverse zoning decisions once made without owner consent.