Public hearing set for Amazon and Duke Energy air permits
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Air Quality is holding a public hearing for draft air quality permits related to Amazon's planned $10 billion data center campus in Richmond County. Duke Energy is also seeking a separate permit for temporary "bridge power" diesel engines to support the project. Both companies' applications are under review, with preliminary determinations suggesting approval if certain conditions are met.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Air Quality (DEQ/DAQ) has scheduled a joint public hearing for Thursday, July 30, at the old Richmond County Courthouse concerning draft air quality permits for Amazon Data Services and Duke Energy.
Amazon is developing a $10 billion artificial intelligence data center campus on Airport Road in Hamlet, encompassing 20 to 21 buildings across nearly 800 acres. The facility is expected to be a major source of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds, with Amazon agreeing to cap emissions below 250 tons per year for each. The project will include 588 critical emergency generators.
Duke Energy seeks a separate permit to install 57 temporary diesel-fired engines to provide "bridge power" during the construction of permanent transmission infrastructure. The engines are mandated for retirement within one year of operation and will be limited to 6.06 million gallons of fuel annually. Both permit applications have undergone reviews, leading to preliminary determinations that they could be approved if specific conditions are met, according to the DEQ/DAQ. Residents unable to attend the hearing can submit comments via email, mail, or phone until July 31.