RoCo passes data center moratorium, over 100 residents express data center opposition

Rowan County Commissioners voted to enact a one-year moratorium on data center development, prompted by strong public opposition. Over 100 residents attended the meeting on Monday, April 20, holding signs and chanting, with many speaking during the public comment period to voice concerns about proposed data centers, particularly a large 400-acre AI data center on Long Ferry Road. Samantha Haspell emphasized the bipartisan nature of the issue, stating, "We do not want your data center." Assistant County Attorney Eli Hardin presented the moratorium, which defines data centers as buildings housing networked computer servers and will prohibit any new zoning or rezoning for data center purposes within the county. The moratorium passed despite Commissioner Craig Pierce leaving the meeting before the vote, requiring a second approval on May 4 due to North Carolina state law. The current moratorium, however, will not apply to the Long Ferry development because state law limits moratoriums on active projects. County Chairman Greg Edds unveiled a "community bill of protections," a set of proposed restrictions intended to guide the planning board's evaluation during the moratorium period. These include demands for developers to cover all utility costs without burdening residents, implement closed-loop non-evaporative cooling systems, use hydrotreated vegetable oil for generators, and maintain strict noise limits. The protections also call for a decommissioning bond, a road maintenance fund, a property value guarantee for nearby homeowners, and local workforce requirements. The planning board will conduct public meetings and propose ordinance changes by February 2027, with the moratorium expiring on May 4, 2027. Residents like Shannon Solomon, who delivered a petition with over 5,200 signatures against the Long Ferry project, expressed frustration that the moratorium would not impact the ongoing development. Others, including Henry Wamble, raised concerns about the strain on electricity grids and water resources, referencing Duke Energy's past requests for residents to limit power consumption. Speakers from the Long Ferry Road neighborhood shared stories of construction disruptions and diminished quality of life, underscoring the ongoing nature of their opposition.