Anti-data center lawsuit filed

A lawsuit was filed at the end of last week in opposition to the data center that was approved for zoning in January for Walnut Cove, North Carolina. The nearly 200-page complaint was filed by the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Southern Environmental Law Center, and a few nearby residents and agencies identifying themselves as "cultural and environmental nonprofits". Stokes County says it is aware of the lawsuit and will not comment on the specific allegations in the complaint at this time, but will provide additional information when appropriate. The county states that land-use decisions can have significant impacts on residents, and the county remains committed to transparency, public participation, and fair administration of zoning and planning processes. The data center project developer, Engineered Land Solutions (ELS), has expressed surprise at the lawsuit, stating that many people have reached out asking for jobs since the rezoning approval in January. ELS believes the data center project can create positive economic impact through responsible development, and it would be unfortunate if the opportunity were rolled back, as it could mean no raises for teachers, higher taxes for residents, and no jobs for those who have inquired. However, the lawsuit alleges that the area has a history of environmental burden and inequity affecting minority communities.