Guilford County and Greensboro Prepare for Data Center Moratorium Hearings
Greensboro has already enacted a 180-day moratorium on new data centers requiring more than 10 megawatts, while Guilford County commissioners are considering a similar 180-day pause in unincorporated areas. The city and county will hold work sessions and a public hearing in October to study utility, environmental, zoning and public health impacts and develop potential regulations.
Greensboro and Guilford County officials are devoting October to data center policy. Greensboro City Council has an active 180-day moratorium on new data centers with electrical demand above 10 megawatts and will hold work sessions on Oct. 8 and Oct. 15 to consider permanent regulations. Existing permitted or under-construction projects are exempt.
The Guilford County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing Oct. 15 on a proposed 180-day moratorium covering new data centers in unincorporated areas. County officials want time to study impacts on utility capacity, water, environmental resources and public health and to draft zoning rules addressing issues such as setbacks, noise, screening, lighting and building design. Planning Director Leslie Bell said the county has no pending data center applications and does not currently specifically define data centers in its zoning ordinance. The county already hosts a roughly 510,000-square-foot American Express data center.