WATAUGA — The Watauga County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a one-year data center moratorium during its April 21 meeting. This decisive action temporarily halts any new data center construction across the county, establishing a period for officials to work with stakeholders and develop comprehensive local regulations.
The meeting saw the commissioner’s boardroom filled to capacity, with the majority of attendees expressing strong support for the moratorium. Seven residents from various parts of Watauga County stepped forward to speak about their apprehensions regarding the proliferation of data centers. They articulated concerns ranging from consistent noise pollution that could impact residential areas, to the significant water consumption — estimated at one to five million gallons — these facilities require. Residents also highlighted the potential for substantial strain on the existing power grid and raised alarms about air pollution generated by diesel backup generators.
Deep Gap resident Cindy Darcy illustrated the significant energy demands, explaining that a single data center could consume "20 to 100 megawatts of power," an amount that equates to enough electricity for 15,000 to 75,000 homes.
County Commissioners shared and reinforced these public concerns. Commissioner Ronnie Marsh specifically emphasized the vulnerability of the local power infrastructure, noting that regional power companies have already issued warnings about the grid's inability to support the substantial energy needs of a data center. Marsh further illustrated this point with a local example, recounting that when Appalachian State University explored purchasing Tesla police cars, a study revealed insufficient power capacity for the university's initial desired quantity. Beyond energy concerns, commissioners also stated that large data centers typically require over 100 megawatts of energy and consume approximately 1.5 million gallons of water daily. Furthermore, commissioners expressed skepticism about the economic benefits, arguing that data centers primarily serve to store data, leading to minimal job creation and failing to generate substantial local tax revenue.
The moratorium’s primary objective is to allow the county valuable time to collaborate effectively with essential partners. These partners include local utility companies responsible for power and water, conservation groups dedicated to environmental protection, and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. Together, they will work towards establishing robust and comprehensive regulations specifically tailored for data centers operating within Watauga County. This move by the County Commissioners aligns with prior action taken by the Boone Town Council, which had already enacted its own one-year moratorium on data center construction. The Boone council's decision also garnered significant community backing, with nearly 100 residents attending that meeting to show their support.
