Apex Considers Data Center Moratorium Amid Opposition

The Globe and Atlas

Summary

Apex considers a data center pause to address community concerns, reflecting a statewide trend.

Why this matters

This trend illustrates the growing tension between technological development and community interests, revealing the ongoing debate over the impact of data centers on local environments and economies.

North Carolina towns increasingly adopt moratoriums on data centers, reflected in Apex’s consideration of a one-year pause to address community concerns and set regulations. Apex Mayor Pro Tem Terry Mahaffey highlighted the absence of specific local rules for data centers, as reported by NC Newsline.

The Apex town council unanimously voted on March 10 to draft a moratorium proposal, which could be decided as early as next month. This follows Natalli Investments’ withdrawal of plans for a data center project projected to generate $4 million unless data centers are incorporated into zoning regulations, according to ABC 11.

The Protect Wake County Coalition opposes such developments, citing potential noise, air pollution, and other community impacts. Data centers represent 80% of Duke Energy’s expected growth in energy demand, according to Gov. Josh Stein’s North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force.

Apex aims to draft regulations with data centers absent from active applications. “With them gone, there’s no reason not to do a moratorium,” Mahaffey stated.

Other North Carolina communities, including Chatham, Gates, and Canton, have also enacted similar moratoriums, reflecting growing resistance in the state. Stokes County faces a lawsuit from residents opposing a large planned data center.

Despite this pushback, North Carolina attracts data center development due to strong fiber optic connectivity and relatively abundant water. Jackson Ewing from Duke University’s Nicholas Institute notes the state’s appeal for data center projects.

Currently, North Carolina has about 100 data centers, mostly older and smaller. Newer data centers, designed for high-demand processing, require significant power and water, leading to increased resistance. Ayse Coskun from Boston University suggests design adaptations to mitigate grid stress.

Proponents point to economic benefits, such as Google’s recent $1 billion investment in Lenoir’s data center. Lenoir Mayor Joseph Gibbons affirmed the investment’s role in spurring development and innovation.

As data center development rises, balancing community concerns and economic opportunities remains crucial.

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