data centers

Charlotte City Council member Dimple Ajmera is calling for a temporary pause on new data centers near residential areas, citing concerns about noise, water use and energy demand.

If you need a basic understanding of data centers, we've produced a zine to serve as a guide for what they are, the trade-offs involved, and a starter list of questions if one gets proposed for your community.

There are about 100 data centers in the state that account for up to 3% of the state’s energy demand. That demand is expected to more than double by 2030, as the market for larger facilities grows to accommodate these rapidly evolving technologies.

Data centers use cooling systems to keep its technology running smoothly. These cooling systems can cause local water pollution and strain existing water resources. This comes as climate change makes drought more frequent and severe.

In rural counties, new developments have prompted soul searching about the lack of land use rules, and many are wondering what can still be done.

A single data center can require as much energy as an entire power plant produces in a year. North Carolina's largest utility has proposed the country’s most ambitious capital plan to meet the projected demand from these power-hungry facilities.

As local officials in North Carolina consider whether to approve data center projects or halt development with moratoriums, their decisions are having political repercussions.

Under current state law, data centers that invest at least $75 million do not have to pay sales and use tax on equipment or electricity. The General Assembly would need to adopt any changes.

A hearing on having a moratorium on data centers brought up memories of removal and extraction.

Canton follows other communities in western North Carolina that are considering resistance to data centers, citing environmental, energy and noise pollution concerns