County manager addresses community benefits, possible data center moratorium

Halifax County Manager Dia Denton confirmed that Quiet Data Centers Halifax has closed on its land sale and will proceed with site preparation and pre-construction activities for a new data center in the county. Denton emphasized the potential for significant community investment through an expanded tax base, estimating an additional $1.75 million in annual property tax revenue from the project's minimum $250 million taxable investment.

Addressing the role of the county, Denton reiterated that counties primarily provide services to the entire populace, not individuals, and that the new tax revenue would help fund essential services like public safety, education, and community college support. She noted that while a community benefits agreement is not mandatory, the county historically experiences strong collaboration from investing companies.

Denton also supported the county commissioners' decision to consider a data center moratorium, with a legislative hearing scheduled for October. She described the Quiet Data Centers Halifax project as unique due to its nature as an economic development initiative on county-owned land already zoned for Heavy Industrial use. The proposed moratorium aims to give staff time to develop language for revising the zoning ordinance, intending to protect residential areas, schools, and churches from the potential impacts of data centers and similar developments, ensuring a balanced approach to economic growth and quality of life in Halifax County.