Charlotte City Council extends data center pause through 2027
Charlotte City Council unanimously extended the pause on new data center development through 2027 while officials study regulations governing where facilities can be built and how they affect neighborhoods, water supplies and the electricity grid. The pause has drawn concerns about economic uncertainty, and council members say state law limits the city's authority to regulate data centers.
The Charlotte City Council unanimously extended the city's pause on new data center development, giving officials additional time to study safeguards for residents and determine how facilities should be monitored and controlled. Council members cited concerns about neighborhood impacts, water consumption, environmental health and pressure on the electricity grid. Existing Charlotte data centers use about 64,000 gallons of water daily, according to the report.
Supporters of the pause said new data centers should not be located near residential areas, while other council members warned that moratoria can create economic uncertainty for workers, businesses and property owners. The council hopes the North Carolina General Assembly will grant local governments more authority after the November election. Although the pause is scheduled to end next October, the council can lift it earlier if it adopts appropriate guidelines.