Richmond County residents push stricter air quality standards for new Amazon data center
State regulators held a public hearing for Amazon's proposed data center in Richmond County, NC. Residents and environmental groups expressed strong concerns about air quality, particularly regarding the permitting of 650 diesel generators separately by Amazon and Duke Energy, which they argue allows the companies to avoid stricter environmental modeling requirements. Critics point to a lack of local air quality sensors, while the Division of Air Quality maintains its monitoring ensures compliance.
State regulators convened a public hearing for Amazon's proposed data center in Richmond County, North Carolina, drawing over 200 attendees and 36 testimonies. The primary concern raised by residents and environmental advocates focused on air quality, specifically regarding two separate permits requested by the state Division of Air Quality (DAQ) for approximately 650 diesel generators. One permit is for Amazon's nearly 600 backup generators, and another for Duke Energy's nearly 60 temporary generators.
Shaun Ingram, co-founder of the Richmond County Coalition for Justice and Black Empowerment, and Caroline Cress, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, argued that these generators should be treated as a single major source of air pollution. They contend that by splitting the permits, the companies avoid more stringent modeling requirements for pollutants, like fine particulate matter. Russell Braswell, a DAQ engineer, acknowledged that Duke's bridge power project is subject to a lower annual emission limit due to its separate permit.
Shawn Taylor, a DAQ spokesperson, stated that despite meeting criteria for contiguous property and industrial grouping, the generators could not be combined into a single permit because Duke Energy would operate some of them. Taylor maintained that North Carolina has met federal air quality standards for over a decade, with a statewide network of monitors. However, Cress and residents like Nellie Dumas and Reverend G. Rebecca Warren highlighted the lack of nearby sensors, with the closest state-owned monitor 45 miles away, making it difficult to assess local impact. Residents urged for more community engagement and stricter conditions, such as limiting generator testing during worship services. The public comment period on the draft permits concluded following the hearing.