Commissioners OK 6-month data center moratorium
During a special meeting on Monday, the Mcdowell County board of Commissioners unanimously agreed to implement a Sixmonth moratorium on any possible data centers in Mcdowell County.
One person holds a sign opposing data centers at the Monday Mcdowell County board of Commissioners meeting.
Around a dozen people signed up to speak at the public hearing. each speaker was limited to three minutes.
A resident holds up a sign opposing data centers in Mcdowell County.
During the public hearing, heather Edwards said county officials should talk to farmers and property owners who are affected by data centers.
During a special meeting on Monday, the McDowell County Board of Commissioners unanimously agreed to implement a six-month moratorium on any possible data centers in McDowell County until new rules for the controversial facilities can be put in place.
The meeting about data centers took place at the County Administrative Offices. It was a continuation of an earlier discussion, when numerous residents showed up to hear what the commissioners were planning to do about any possible data centers in McDowell.
Data centers house computer systems that help train artificial intelligence models and process data for users, and they are being built across the United States. Centers can range from the size of a closet to the size of a warehouse or a manufacturing plant. Public awareness and opposition across the country are growing, with concerns voiced over pollution, water and electricity demands and other potential burdens.
County Manager Ashley Wooten previously said the county is not reviewing any proposals, plans or applications for a center in McDowell County, but the county planning board recommended that the commissioners impose a moratorium on the centers, which would give time for new rules to be created before a data center is proposed.
At Monday's meeting, Wooten said the county cannot ban a data center because it is an activity or facility that is already allowed by law.
To impose a moratorium requires first holding a public hearing, under North Carolina law.
On Monday, the boardroom was filled with residents who came to voice their concerns about data centers. Two residents held up signs stating their opposition.
About a dozen people signed up to speak at the public hearing. Each speaker was limited to three minutes.
Marvin Radford said he was concerned about how the centers consume water, especially during the recent drought, and he said the voters should decide whether there should be data centers in McDowell.
Teri Stahara talked about concerns related to noise and electricity use. She also talked about the large amounts of water some data centers can use. Once a center is up and running, it doesn't create many jobs, she said.
"I just want to join my voice to the chorus of those who are here supporting the moratorium, to investigate this and hold off on data centers in McDowell County," said business owner Stephen Knight, adding North Carolina has about 100 data centers already.
"McDowell is a beautiful place," he said. "We want to preserve that. That is a part of our tourism. That is part of the attraction of people coming to this area. Let another county make the mistake of saying yes to a huge corporate data center development, giving them a huge tax break."
Data centers bring few jobs, and the cons outweigh the pros, Knight said.
Heather Edwards said county officials should talk to farmers and property owners who are affected by data centers.
After hearing from the public, the commissioners closed the hearing and Chairman Tony Brown asked for a motion.Commissioner David Walker made a motion for a moratorium of six months rather than the recommended one year. This would give a sooner date for the Planning Board to come back with a "good solid document" that would represent the concerns county officials heard at the meeting. This document on regulating data centers should address the concerns over water usage, electricity usage, noise pollution and environmental matters, Walker said.
"We want companies that are going to enhance our communities and not detract from them," Walker said.
His motion was unanimously approved by the other commissioners. The six-month moratorium will give the county time to create rules on what kind of data centers can be built here.
The issue of data centers will likely come back before the McDowell commissioners in February or March of 2027.
