Cary town leaders call for pause on data center development
Cary town leaders are considering a moratorium on data center development to study the environmental and financial impacts. The Cary Council passed a motion to advance this consideration, as concerns rise over water resources and power demands, particularly impacting Jordan Lake.
Cary town leaders are actively considering a moratorium on new data center developments to allow for comprehensive studies into their environmental and financial impacts. Mayor Pro Tem tells WRAL's Bailey Stamos that she supports a pause on development to ensure the town can environmentally sustain such projects. This comes as discussions surrounding massive data center developments in North Carolina, especially in rural communities, are intensifying.
During a Thursday night meeting, the Cary Council passed a motion that assigns town planners the task of determining the next steps for a potential moratorium. Concerns are particularly focused on the Jordan Lake watershed, which serves as drinking water for 770,000 people in the region, highlighting the finite nature of shared water resources. The debate has drawn attention from state leaders, with North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Lilly and Blind stating that the state would only support communities that are in favor of such developments, not coerce them into accepting projects they do not want. Other counties like Chatham and Orange have also initiated similar moratoriums to reconsider the impacts of data centers. While the town is exploring this pause, no specific tech companies have yet come forward with proposals.