County board approves 12-month moratorium on data centers

The Warren County Board of Commissioners has enacted a 12-month moratorium on development approvals for data centers and similar high-impact facilities. The decision, made during a work session on August 19, followed a public hearing where residents unanimously supported the pause in development.

Several community members, including Bill Kearney of the Warren County Environmental Action Team, advocated for the moratorium, suggesting it be used for community education and the formation of a task force. Milo Alston expressed a desire for a permanent ban, citing concerns about land and water usage by data centers. Other residents, such as Deborah and Ken Ferruccio, highlighted the county's vulnerability due to its resources and lack of existing ordinances, worrying about nonstop operations, water depletion from Kerr Lake, and the unknown impacts of artificial intelligence. Dr. Cosmos George raised concerns about the medical impact of continuous noise, while Victoria Lehman of the county Tourism Development Authority spoke about potential negative effects on local tourism and economic development.

Mark Bloomer, Warren County Planning, Zoning and Code Enforcement Director, informed commissioners that North Carolina statutes permit temporary development pauses for local governments to address complex issues. He noted that data centers are not currently defined in the county’s zoning ordinance and that there had been no proposed data centers in Warren County to date. Bloomer presented recommendations from county staff and the Planning Board for the moratorium period, which include site visits to existing data centers, interviews with environmental and planning staff from other jurisdictions, and the development of recommendations for the Warren County Unified Development Ordinance.

The approved ordinance, effective until August 19, 2027, mandates a detailed assessment of water and electrical capacity, research into data center regulations in other jurisdictions, and a study of potential local impacts. During this time, the county will determine the appropriateness of data centers for Warren County. If deemed appropriate, staff will draft definitions, performance standards, and zoning requirements; if not, an ordinance prohibiting data centers will be drafted. The moratorium may be extended if more time is needed to complete these tasks.