Apex Town Council to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Data Center Moratorium

The Apex Town Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on April 14 to discuss a proposed 12-month moratorium on data center construction. This consideration comes a month after Natelli Investments withdrew its proposal for a 250-megawatt data center near the Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant in New Hill, a project that faced substantial community opposition. Residents voiced concerns about the environmental impact, increased traffic, and potential rise in the cost of living associated with hyperscale data centers. Similar facilities in other communities have led to higher power bills due to increased energy demand, depletion of local water supplies for cooling, worsening air quality from generators, and disruptive noise. The proposed moratorium would allow the Town Council to research and establish specific conditions and regulations for future data center development in Apex. There is ongoing debate among Apex officials and community members regarding the process for developing these new regulations. Mayor Jacques T. Gilbert's proposal for a new committee of residents and experts was overruled; instead, the town's Environmental Affairs Board (EAB) has been tasked with leading the effort. The EAB has formed a subcommittee, led by board chair Mark Schwegel and members Melissa Ripper, John Garrison, Suzanne Mason, and Bill Jensen, to conduct research, engage the public, and draft policy recommendations focusing on areas like air and water quality and energy consumption. The EAB is expected to present its full plan by May 9, and staff will also hold public engagement sessions. Council member Terry Mahaffey noted the moratorium's broad implications for land use, utility demands, traffic, and long-range planning, urging residents to provide input.