Rowan County Fights Data Centers on Farmland

0:00Rowan County, near Charlotte, has joined other local communities, pushing back against huge data centers popping up on former farmland. Back in October, commissioners re-zoned nearly 400 acres off Longfairy Road in Salisbury to allow data centers. Soon after, a company tie to developer edged bought this site for $174 million. The push for these facilities ties into the explosion of artificial intelligence, driving demand for more computing power. The Carolinas, especially around Charlotte, are becoming a hotspot for these massive warehouses full of servers. Locals worry about heavy water use, pollution, higher electric bills, new taxes, and falling property values. They've started a petition with almost 3,000 signatures and raised $1,200 on GoFundMe to fight the plans. At a recent commissioners meeting, about 45 residents' voice frustration over the quick rezoning process. One official insisted no data center deal is set yet. Meanwhile, similar battles have

1:02succeeded in places like Matthews and Moore'sville, but failed elsewhere. For now, in Rowan County, no formal project has been submitted, leaving the future of that land up in the air. That's your Durham News Today update. AI-powered and always on.