Dem Senate hopeful pivots on data centers as rising power costs collide with campaign
Democratic Senate nominee Roy Cooper has shifted his stance on data centers, advocating that they should pay for their own power to prevent rising utility costs for North Carolina consumers. This pivot contrasts with his previous support for data center growth and tax incentives as governor. Cooper emphasizes that local communities should have the final say on new data center projects, including potential moratoriums.
Democratic Senate nominee Roy Cooper is now campaigning on a platform to curb data center expansion in North Carolina, a significant pivot from his previous stance as governor where he applauded their growth and offered tax incentives. Cooper, now running for U.S. Senate, states that data centers must "pay for their own power" and develop their own energy sources to alleviate rising electricity rates for consumers, framing this as part of his "make stuff cost less" campaign.
During his tenure as governor, Cooper's administration celebrated a 15-fold increase in data center construction, bolstered by state tax exemptions implemented in 2016. Notably, Apple received an $845 million Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) in 2019 for its data center development in Maiden, a move Cooper lauded for creating 3,000 jobs. Other companies like Meta, Corvid Technologies, GIGA, Microsoft, Segra, and Google also announced or completed data center expansions in the state, with some, like Corvid, receiving similar incentives for projects in places like Mooresville.
This shift aligns with growing concerns from other state officials, including current Governor Josh Stein, who has pointed to data centers as a factor in rising utility costs from providers like Duke Energy. While Cooper has not called for an outright ban, he strongly advocates for policies requiring data centers to bear the full cost of their energy consumption and for local communities to have ultimate control over new projects, potentially including local moratoriums.