EBCI passes moratorium on data centers

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Tribal Council unanimously approved an indefinite moratorium on data center development within the Qualla Boundary on Thursday. This decision follows similar actions by several other North Carolina counties and municipalities, spurred by widespread environmental concerns. Resident Mary "Missy" Crowe, a lifelong resident of the Qualla Boundary and an organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network, was instrumental in raising awareness. She pointed to existing data centers, such as the XAI facility in Memphis, and recent moratoriums in neighboring Swain and Haywood counties as reasons for concern. Crowe, in collaboration with the Eastern Cherokee Organization, hosted a community dinner and information session to educate residents on the environmental impacts of data centers. Council member Shennelle Feather, representing the Yellow Hill community, voiced particular apprehension about potential effects on water quality, which is crucial for the tribe's fishing industry and cultural practices. Feather emphasized the tribe's earlier "rights of nature" resolution, recognizing local rivers as a sacred, living entity. She argued that supporting the moratorium aligned with indigenous values of protecting natural resources. While some community members raised questions about the moratorium's implications for tribal sovereignty in data storage, the council clarified that the ordinance does not include all types of data storage facilities.