Davie County Residents Push Back Against Potential Data Center Development; Moratorium Considered
Davie County, North Carolina residents are actively opposing potential data center developments, citing concerns over water and power usage, noise, and loss of farmland. County commissioners are considering a 12-month moratorium on new data center projects to allow time to establish appropriate rules and ordinances. A large public meeting is scheduled to discuss the issue.
Residents of Davie County, North Carolina, are strongly opposing potential data center developments in their area. Randy and Regina Miller, lifelong residents, expressed concerns that data centers would threaten the county's rural heritage. This sentiment is echoed by over 3,500 people who have signed an online petition, citing issues such as water and power usage, noise pollution, and the loss of farmland and wildlife.
In response to this community pushback and developers' expressed interest in the county (though no rezoning applications have been filed yet), Davie County Commissioners are considering a 12-month pause on any new data center development. Davie County Manager Brian Barnett stated that this moratorium would provide an opportunity to implement new rules and ordinances, creating a standard that companies would need to meet to build in the county. A public meeting on the matter has been relocated to the Davie County High School Auditorium to accommodate an anticipated large turnout.