Residents push data center moratorium at heated Fayetteville council forum
Residents in Fayetteville, NC, passionately advocated for a data center moratorium at a City Council public forum, expressing concerns over water and power usage. Despite strong public turnout and a council member's request, a motion to draft a moratorium ordinance failed to pass. The City Council is now set to vote on holding a public hearing for proposed revised ordinances that would place limitations on data center developments.
Fayetteville, NC residents and community members gathered for a heated City Council public forum on June 1, overwhelmingly pushing for a moratorium on data center developments in the city. Mayor Mitch Colvin noted the council had previously voted on a 120-day pause for information gathering. Council member Shaun McMillan's formal request to draft a moratorium ordinance was introduced but failed to receive a second, prompting an uproar from the passionate crowd.
Speakers voiced strong opposition, citing concerns about data centers' significant water and power consumption, and potential environmental impacts. Resident Angela Tatum emphasized the need for community involvement in decisions affecting them, while Janelle Kimbro of Sustainable Sandhills argued for prioritizing people over profits and a thriving planet. Pastor Micaela Bryce of Covenant Love Church called for transparency regarding data centers' effects on quality of life, water supply, power grid, and health.
The forum, initially limited, saw residents grow increasingly vocal. After a motion to extend speaking time failed, resident Elizabeth Gruesome was escorted out by security for objecting to not being heard. Gruesome, from neighboring Harnett County, expressed the community's desire for the council to wait for more data and assurances before approving data center projects, deeming it a "quality of life issue."
Mayor Colvin acknowledged the passion but stated data centers are an issue Fayetteville must address, advocating for economic growth and a larger tax base. Cumberland County has also held a public hearing regarding a potential moratorium. Separately, Council member Deno Hondros sought support for a public hearing on proposed revised ordinances to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance, which would add limitations and protections for data center developments, with a vote on this request scheduled for June 8.