Residents voice support for Newport’s moratorium approval on data center
The Newport Town Council has approved a one-year moratorium on data center development to allow the town to revise its unified development ordinance. Residents expressed strong support for the moratorium, citing concerns about resource consumption, water usage, and potential environmental pollutants associated with data centers. The town intends to establish clear development standards and regulations for data processing facilities.
The Newport Town Council in Carteret County, North Carolina, has approved a one-year moratorium on data center development, aiming to delay new projects while the town evaluates its regulations. This decision comes amidst a national debate on data center proliferation and local concerns regarding their impact.
Residents like Teresa McCoy expressed strong opposition, citing data centers' significant drain on resources such as water and electricity for cooling, and voicing general disapproval of extensive data collection. Many hope such facilities will never be established in their community.
Another resident, Janet Nickels, shared mixed feelings, primarily due to the lack of definitive answers regarding the environmental impact, particularly concerning utility demands and water usage in a coastal region. Neighboring Beaufort County officials have also postponed a vote on a similar moratorium until October, indicating broader regional consideration of the issue.
The Newport officials plan to utilize the moratorium period to undertake a comprehensive rewrite of the town's unified development ordinance. This revision will address specific standards for data centers, including permissible locations, development guidelines, and other regulations to mitigate their potential impacts, clarifying that the moratorium is not a permanent prohibition.