Demand for a Moratorium on Data Centers
Concern over data centers continues to dominate local government forums. Data centers use increasing amounts of land, electricity, and water. Residents are seeing unprecedented electricity rate hikes and levels of drought in North Carolina, at the same time data centers are proliferating.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has said data centers are partially to blame for rising energy prices, stating they account for about 80 percent of additional demand Duke Energy expects. Data centers also pollute environments with toxic waste, light, noise, and heat. Research shows data centers raise surrounding temperatures by 4 degrees, and use as much water as entire towns.
In North Carolina, half a dozen towns along with six counties have declared moratoria on data center construction. Greensboro has not, and the position of city councillors on data centers is unclear.
In response to speaker Del Stone at the last city council meeting, five councillors commented on the concerns raised. Read their responses here