Charlotte extends data center moratorium in unanimous vote
Charlotte City Council unanimously extended the city’s temporary moratorium on new data center construction through next October. The extension gives city staff more time to develop regulations addressing water conservation, noise, zoning, utility costs and other community concerns, while previously approved projects may continue.
The Charlotte City Council unanimously extended its temporary moratorium on new data center construction through October of next year. The extension replaces an initial 150-day pause and is intended to give city staff additional time to develop rules for different types and sizes of data centers, including possible water-conservation requirements and updates to noise regulations.
Council members and residents raised concerns about data centers’ effects on residential areas, utility bills, energy demand and the local environment. Some residents, including Amy Brooks Paradise, said the pause should last two or three years to allow more questions to be answered, while previously approved projects in Uptown can continue. Council members also noted that some zoning changes, including downzoning, may depend on state authority.