North Carolina urged to evaluate data centers factually amid opposition
An opinion piece argues that growing opposition to data centers in North Carolina is driven by fear and misinformation, rather than objective facts. The author urges communities to evaluate actual local impacts regarding water and electricity use, cautioning against indiscriminate moratoriums like the one enacted in Charlotte.
An opinion piece by Donna King, editor in chief for the Carolina Journal and Executive Vice President of the John Locke Foundation, addresses the growing opposition to data center development across North Carolina, urging communities to base decisions on facts rather than 'fear-driven hysteria.' King highlights a significant increase in public opposition, noting that a Heatmap Pro/Embold Research poll showed 75% of Americans now oppose a data center near their homes, up from 42% a year prior. She suggests that this backlash might be a proxy for discomfort with AI and mentions a potential China-origin group generating online content critical of U.S. data centers.
The article notes that over 30 North Carolina local governments, including Charlotte, have imposed temporary moratoriums between February and July 2026. King argues that indiscriminate rejection of projects could divert investment elsewhere. She challenges common criticisms regarding water and electricity consumption, citing a U.S. Department of Energy projection that data center electricity demand could double or triple by 2028. However, she also points out that claims about water usage are often exaggerated or misquoted, with actual consumption typically lower than permitted maximums.
King emphasizes that data centers are efficient computing machines and discusses how water used for cooling is often unpolluted and part of a natural cycle, with facilities employing various cooling technologies like air cooling (e.g., Google's Mesa, Arizona, facility). She advocates for objective local standards to address concerns like noise and visibility, similar to how other industrial developments are regulated. The author concludes by urging North Carolinians to guide decisions with critical thinking and establish fair, predictable rules for data center development without special incentives or penalties.