Charlotte residents demand moratorium on data centers during public hearing
Charlotte residents packed a public hearing to demand a moratorium on new data center development, citing concerns over environmental impacts, water usage, and electricity consumption. The Charlotte City Council is considering a 150-day moratorium to study these impacts, with a vote potentially scheduled for June 8. Residents highlighted specific projects from American Towers, Digital Realty, and PowerHouse.
About 50 protesters gathered outside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center before a public hearing, demanding a ban or moratorium on new data center development due to concerns over air and water quality, increased electricity bills, and climate change. Residents highlighted a petition with nearly 6,000 signatures against American Towers' proposed expansion in east Charlotte. The Charlotte City Council is currently considering a 150-day moratorium to analyze development impacts, with a potential vote scheduled for June 8.
During the hearing, 36 speakers voiced concerns, including Robert Dawkins of Action NC, who advocated for mandatory onsite renewable energy, strict water-use limits, and community benefits agreements. Catawba Riverkeeper Brandon Jones testified about a lack of transparency in data center water usage and potential overallocation of limited resources. Kasey Moraveck, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, recommended creating a new industrial land use category in the Unified Development Ordinance for "hyperscale" data centers and requiring special use permits for them to ensure public input.
Concerns extended to existing projects like Digital Realty's 400-megawatt campus and PowerHouse's 300-megawatt facility, which are already underway and would be among the largest in North Carolina. Residents like Nia Anderson expressed worries about groundwater impacts near proposed projects, while Antoinette Mingo raised concerns about heat generation. Speakers also pushed for environmental and human health impact assessments, data center size limits, and mandatory closed-loop cooling systems.
While most speakers supported a moratorium, at least three opposed it, citing business and development concerns. Land Use attorney Collin Brown argued data centers are becoming critical infrastructure, akin to utilities. The article notes that frustrations with local government transparency have coalesced around data centers. The City Council's decision on the proposed moratorium is pending.