Mount Airy, NC, to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Data Center Moratorium
The City of Mount Airy Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on July 16, 2026, to discuss a proposed 60-day moratorium on new data center applications. The moratorium aims to allow the city to assess the impacts of data centers on utilities, environmental resources, energy consumption, and local zoning, and to develop appropriate land-use regulations.
The City of Mount Airy Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing for July 16, 2026, to gather public input on a proposed 60-day moratorium on new or expanded data center applications within the city limits. The hearing will commence at 6:00 pm in the Council Chamber of the Municipal Building.
The primary objective of the proposed temporary ban is to provide the City with an opportunity to thoroughly evaluate the effects that data center facilities may have on critical infrastructure and resources. This includes assessing their impacts on utility capacity, environmental resources, energy consumption, and existing local zoning frameworks. The insights gained from this evaluation period will then be used to inform and prepare appropriate, long-term land-use regulations specifically tailored for data center developments.
Under the terms of the proposed ordinance, the construction, development, or permitting of data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations, and any associated processing facilities would be prohibited for the 60-day duration. The Board of Commissioners may consider changes to the proposed action following the public hearing. Interested parties can find details on how to attend the meeting, either in person or virtually, and how to submit public comments, on the city's official website, www.mountairy.org.