Protesters Urge Fayetteville Leaders to Halt Data Center Development and Consider Moratorium
Fayetteville, NC residents protested potential data center development ahead of a city council meeting, urging leaders to impose a moratorium and slow down decisions. The city council is considering a proposed amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to establish specific standards for data centers, but officials state this does not approve any particular project.
Dozens of Fayetteville, North Carolina community members rallied outside City Hall to protest potential data center development, calling for a moratorium before city leaders consider changes to local zoning rules. The protest took place ahead of a Fayetteville City Council meeting, where members were expected to discuss scheduling a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the city's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
Organizers, including Kristen Starks, expressed concerns that data centers could negatively impact air quality, water resources, neighborhoods, and the electrical grid, arguing that while Fayetteville needs jobs, data centers are not the solution. Protesters urged city leaders to slow the process and provide residents with more information before making decisions.
The debate comes after the Fayetteville City Council voted in April for a 120-day pause on discussions about a possible data center moratorium. Despite city officials emphasizing that the proposed UDO amendment does not approve a specific data center project but rather clarifies zoning regulations, residents continue to push for a moratorium. Mayor Mitch Colvin acknowledged the need for more conversations and highlighted potential economic benefits, such as 100 to 150 six-figure engineering jobs. Meanwhile, Cumberland County commissioners are also considering a separate data center moratorium, though no specific data center project has been formally proposed in Fayetteville.