Commissioners decide: yearlong "pause" will allow review, potential revision of ordinances that might apply to data centers
Alamance County's board of commissioners has unanimously voted to enact a 12-month moratorium on new data center proposals in unincorporated areas. This pause will allow county officials to draft and implement a new set of regulations for data centers, addressing concerns about their potential impact. The decision follows public demand for a temporary halt to development.
The Alamance County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina has unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on new data center proposals within the county's unincorporated areas. The 5-to-0 vote came after a public hearing where residents advocated for a "pause" of one to two years to allow for the development of comprehensive regulations for these facilities.
Commissioner Pam Thompson, who initially proposed the moratorium, expressed a personal preference for a complete prohibition of data centers, citing the county's "precious" nature. However, Alamance County Attorney Rik Stevens clarified that the moratorium's legal purpose is to provide time for drafting new rules, not to serve as a backdoor to an outright ban, which could lead to legal challenges.
The extended pause, which will expire on August 17, 2027, will involve a detailed process. Within 120 days, the county plans to catalog existing regulations, identify infrastructure considerations, and determine regulatory gaps. By 180 days, consultations with relevant departments will cover factors such as electrical and water demands, road access, emergency response, backup generation, noise, and stormwater. Planning staff are required to present regulatory suggestions to the commissioners within 240 days, with the goal of implementing new rules before the moratorium ends. Commissioners Sam Powell, Ed Priola, Steve Carter, and Kelly Allen all stressed the need to control data center development to protect citizens while acknowledging the industry's presence in the state.