Moratorium approved for Yadkin County as potential Yadkinville data center project announced

The Yadkin County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a two-year moratorium on data center development within the county's unincorporated areas. This decision, extending an initial 12-month proposal to two years, followed over an hour of public comments predominantly opposing data centers due to concerns about water usage, energy demands, noise, and the impact on local farmland and rural character. Residents, including long-time farmers and new arrivals seeking rural lifestyles, urged the board to protect community resources and quality of life.

The moratorium was enacted on the same day an agreement was announced for Enovum Data Centers, operating as White Fiber, to acquire two Unifi properties in Yadkinville. The $60 million deal involves approximately 120 acres and 500,000 square feet of warehouse space, intended for retrofit into data center campuses known as NC-2 and NC-3, with an initial capacity of 60 MW and potential for 200 MW. This marks an expansion of White Fiber's presence in North Carolina, building on its existing NC-1 campus in Madison, Rockingham County.

County Manager Michael Silverman clarified that the moratorium would not apply to incorporated municipalities. Yadkinville Town Manager Mike Koser indicated the town would address concerns about the announced project once more information becomes available, noting that the properties are already zoned industrial, posing no immediate legal or zoning hurdle. Despite overwhelming opposition, at least one resident, Dean Swaim, advocated for a temporary moratorium to explore economic benefits and mitigation strategies, suggesting data centers are inevitable and could provide significant tax revenue.