Data Center plans revealed for Lee County
PointOne Data Centers and Helix Ventures have proposed a $900 million data center in Lee County, North Carolina, with CyrusOne as the operator. The project is slated for review by the Sanford/Lee County/Broadway Technical Review Committee and has drawn concerns from environmental groups and citizens regarding water, power, and environmental impacts. Opposition groups are planning a lobby day at the state legislature to advocate for data center regulations.
PointOne Data Centers, in partnership with Helix Ventures, has submitted a proposal for a $900 million data center on a 430-acre site in northern Lee County, North Carolina. CyrusOne is slated to operate the facility, with Phase One comprising a 300,000 square-foot data center. The project is on the agenda for the Sanford/Lee County/Broadway Technical Review Committee's June 25 virtual meeting, marking its first review. Construction, if approved, is anticipated to begin this fall, with operations by early 2028.
The proposed data center has generated significant community concern from citizens and environmental groups, including Clean Water NC's Steph Gans. Objections center on water and power usage, environmental impacts, and transparency regarding local zoning rule changes adopted last year. Gans highlighted the need for state-level leadership on these issues, organizing a "NC Data Center Grassroots Lobby Day" in Raleigh on June 24 to press legislators on concerns like high electric bills, water usage, and noise pollution.
Despite opposition, Sanford Area Growth Alliance CEO Jimmy Randolph lauded the project as an "outstanding economic development opportunity" for Lee County. He emphasized that the data center would not receive local financial incentives and that its substantial capital investment could generate millions in tax revenue without demanding costly residential services. Randolph also stated that the project, as planned, meets or exceeds all local development ordinances designed to address community concerns, including power and water infrastructure costs covered by CyrusOne and minimal daily water usage through a "closed loop" system.