Fayetteville City Council Tours Data Centers Amid Moratorium Discussions
Fayetteville City Council members toured data centers in Fayetteville and Research Triangle Park without public notification, as they consider a proposed ordinance and a moratorium on new data center construction. Grassroots opposition has been vocal, and Cumberland County has already enacted a six-month moratorium. The council is grappling with potential impacts on electricity, water, and land use.
Six members of the Fayetteville City Council conducted private tours of three data centers, including Advanced Internet Technologies in Fayetteville and TierPoint's Raleigh-RTP facility in Research Triangle Park. The tours were held as the council prepares to consider a proposed ordinance regulating data centers and a potential moratorium on their construction, a decision that was previously postponed for 120 days until August 25.
Public access to the tours was restricted, and the city did not issue prior announcements, sparking concerns about transparency and adherence to North Carolina's Open Meetings Law. Councilmembers intentionally avoided forming a quorum during the site visits to bypass public notification requirements, a move Councilmember Deno Hondros admitted "could raise questions" given the high public interest.
Local grassroots groups have actively called for a moratorium, citing concerns over environmental, utility, and land-use impacts, including potential rises in electricity and water bills. Neighboring Cumberland County has already enacted a six-month data center moratorium to allow time for staff to develop a county-wide ordinance. A public hearing on Fayetteville's proposed data center ordinance is scheduled for August 10.