Neighbors split on proposed third data center for Richmond County | WSOC-TV

Neighbors in Richmond County, North Carolina, are expressing mixed reactions to a proposed third data center in the Rockingham area. The plan, which would involve a $1.2 billion investment, several buildings, and employ 30 people, requires a rezoning request to change the land from high-density residential to conditional light industrial. Residents like Zachary Hamilton oppose the project due to perceived negative consequences, while others support it.

State Representative Ben Moss emphasized the need for transparency, stating that citizens are "entitled to the right to have some discussion and ask questions and be heard" before the project moves forward. Moss, who previously owned the land, now lives nearby and plans to move to a more rural area. The Rockingham Planning Board has recommended approval of the rezoning, but the City Council will not vote until a public hearing is held, the date for which is expected to be set soon.

A staff report for the proposed facility includes a noise study and details on expected water usage, noting that the cooling system would be a closed-loop design using significantly less water than an initial proposal of 75,000 gallons per day.

This controversy follows previous data center developments in Richmond County that had minimal public involvement. One of these, an Amazon data center, is under construction off Airport Road, and another is located off County Home Road. Representative Moss also previously voted for the Ratepayer Protection Act in the General Assembly, which aims to regulate large data centers, an area where Richmond County currently lacks specific restrictions.