Wendell, NC Considers Data Center Pause

0:00The town of Windall and North Carolina is set to consider a pause on data center development at its board meeting on Monday. Officials say there are no current plans for any facilities there, but they want to stay ahead of the rapid growth expected across the state due to booming demand for AI infrastructure. Several nearby areas have already taken similar steps. In Apex, residents push back against a proposed site near a nuclear plan, leading to a one-year moratorium so leaders can study the issue. Chatham County announced its own year-long halt back in February, with Orange, Lee, and Cumberland counties looking at the same. Critics worry about the huge electricity needs and constant operation of these massive computer hubs plus their environmental toll. Industry figures show a 250 megawatt data center could guzzle up to a billion gallons of water a year, or about 2.7 million. Gallons daily. Not everyone opposes them, though. Person County greenlit a Microsoft project this year, expecting tax revenue and jobs.

1:03A Duke University study from February suggests data centers could cut power costs by up to $150 billion nationwide over the next decade, if they shift usage to off-peak times. As more towns weigh the pros and cons, these pauses aim to ensure informed choices before any big-build reshape local communities. That wraps Durham News Today brought to you with AI. I'm Cory with the story.