Whiteville leaders to consider 12-month ban on data centers, crypto mines

Whiteville, North Carolina, officials are moving forward with a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities, with a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, August 25. The Whiteville City Council is slated to vote on the temporary ban at its evening meeting. If approved, the moratorium would immediately freeze all development approvals for these operations from August 25, 2026, until August 25, 2027, or until new zoning ordinances are adopted, whichever comes first.

City agenda documents indicate that these high-tech facilities require massive amounts of electricity and water. Local officials have raised concerns that unregulated growth could result in high greenhouse gas emissions, pollutant exposure from backup diesel generators, excessive electronic waste, and severe noise pollution impacting nearby residents. The Whiteville planning staff are currently developing new zoning standards and mitigation strategies to manage these intensive land uses and require additional time to finalize these regulations, including impact studies and formal amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance. This includes rules governing location, height, size, density, and proximity to residential areas, aligning with the Whiteville Comprehensive Land Use Plan.