Durham County passes 9-month data center moratorium
The Durham Board of County Commissioners passed a nine-month data center moratorium with a 4-1 vote, halting new data center development except for those under 100,000 square feet using closed-loop cooling systems. The decision faced opposition from residents and one commissioner who advocated for a stronger moratorium without exemptions, citing environmental concerns and potential impact on property values. County staff will use the moratorium period to research data center impacts and develop refined regulations.
The Durham Board of County Commissioners enacted a nine-month data center moratorium in a 4-1 vote, effectively pausing the acceptance, processing, and approval of new data center developments in the county. The moratorium, set to last until May 2027, includes an exemption for data centers under 100,000 square feet that utilize closed-loop cooling systems or similar water-reducing technologies, though most hyperscale facilities will not qualify.
The measure aims to provide county staff, led by Sara Young, director of the Durham city-county planning department, time to research the environmental and technical impacts of data centers and engage with the community. This timeline aligns with a similar moratorium previously passed by the City of Durham and will inform refinements to Durham’s Unified Development Ordinance. A draft of new regulations is anticipated for presentation at the December joint city-county planning committee meeting.
While there was broad consensus on the need for a moratorium, debate centered on the extent of the exemption. Research Triangle Foundation President and CEO Scott Levitan supported the exemption, arguing it would deter hyperscale projects while allowing smaller, less impactful developments necessary for RTP's research and development sector. Conversely, Board Vice Chair Nida Allam cast the sole dissenting vote, expressing concerns over a "break in trust" with the public regarding the inclusion of exemptions after earlier discussions. Most residents who spoke at the meeting echoed Allam’s sentiments, advocating for the strongest possible moratorium without exceptions, citing environmental impacts on water, animals, and electricity, especially amid a local drought, as well as potential declines in property values. A motion by Allam to remove the size and expansion exemptions failed, though amendments to cooling and electrical requirements were passed.
Duke University's data center project near Central Campus, approved before the moratorium, is exempt due to its educational purpose and prior approval.