Durham Could Impose a Two-Year Data Center Moratorium

The Durham City Council is set to consider a proposal for a two-year moratorium on the construction of data centers, data processing facilities, and cryptocurrency mining operations during its upcoming May 4 meeting. Councilmember Nate Baker, who introduced the proposal, stated its purpose is to proactively establish regulations and study the potential detrimental impacts of these facilities before they become a significant problem in the city. The proposed temporary ban would prevent the council from approving new data center developments for two years, allowing the city to research, develop new policies, and create specific legislation, including updating its Unified Development Ordinance to include data center regulations. This initiative comes shortly after Apex, Orange County, and Chatham County enacted similar one-year moratoriums for the same reasons. Local housing and environmental justice groups, such as Community Land and Power and the Stop Data Centers in Durham Coalition, are actively advocating for the moratorium. Leslie St Dre, founder of Community Land and Power, emphasizes concerns about air, water, and noise pollution, as well as the significant energy and land requirements of data centers. Bonita Green of the Merrick-Moore Community Development Corporation and resident Charla Rios echoed these concerns, highlighting potential noise impacts, water consumption during drought conditions, and the financial implications of proposed energy rate hikes by Duke Energy. Mayor Leo Williams has indicated his support for the moratorium, which will be subject to a public hearing and a vote by the City Council next week. Residents and advocacy groups hope the city will conduct thorough and transparent research into the long-term impacts of hyperscale data centers on the community.