Watch CMCL rally to fight data centers in this video by QC Nerve
PRESS STATEMENT
Charlotte Mecklenburg Climate Leaders (CMCL) is a broad coalition of Charlotte area organizations, businesses, institutions, and individuals working to ensure the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and its municipalities set ambitious climate goals and successfully meet them.
Since 2018 we’ve taken positions to protect our environment and public health through strong public policies that mitigate the effects of climate change including advocating for clean energy, fair electric rates, environmental justice solutions, healthier air and water, an increased tree canopy, and preservation of farmland and natural areas.
As the City and its residents begin to take a hard look at the impacts of hyper-scale data centers CMCL has a number of critical concerns, given our priorities listed above. Residents across our state have also spoken loud and clear about the industrialization of suburban and rural areas. Their concern has resulted in a moratorium period or pause in at least 13 towns, cities, and counties in North Carolina. The moratorium periods run from 60 days in Durham to 32 months in Northampton County. Chatham, Orange, Gates, and Harnett counties have 12-month moratoriums. Cities and towns in Wake County (Apex), Nash County (Spring Hope), and Haywood County (Canton) have also adopted 12-month moratoriums or pauses.
While CMCL supports the adoption of a moratorium, we expect that finalizing zoning regulations, conducting environmental and public health impact studies, and researching and drafting components of sustainable data centers, will take more time than five months. More time is also needed for industry to present better proposals to their municipalities.
As Charlotte plans for future growth, digital infrastructure must be treated with the same level of planning and accountability that we apply to other infrastructure systems such as transportation, telecommunications networks, and water. We must future-proof both existing and proposed infrastructure to ensure it supports economic innovation without compromising public health, environmental sustainability, or community resilience.
These facilities consume enormous amounts of electricity and water, generate air and noise pollution, strain local infrastructure, and contribute to climate and environmental degradation. National studies estimate that data centers consumed more than 4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023, and that demand could rise to as much as 12% by 2028.
The environmental impacts of data center construction and operation are significant. Large facilities require extensive land clearing, tree removal, grading, and paving, contributing to stormwater runoff, erosion, flooding risks, habitat disruption, and urban heat island effects. All while placing additional stress on aging utility and stormwater systems.
Noise and air pollution from data centers are often overlooked public health concerns. These facilities operate 24/7 using industrial cooling systems, transformers, and diesel backup generators that can create constant noise, disrupt sleep, increase stress, and reduce quality of life for nearby residents. They also contribute to air pollution and respiratory health risks, including asthma symptoms which are costly to the healthcare system and families.
These impacts are not experienced equally. Communities already burdened by environmental and health inequities are often the ones most vulnerable to increased pollution, industrial development, traffic, and infrastructure strain. The City currently lacks clearly defined standards or review processes related to cumulative environmental justice impacts, industrial-scale backup generator systems, long-duration operational noise, and broader infrastructure burden analyses associated with digital facilities.
That is why Charlotte should require Health and Environmental Impact Assessments for all proposed data center developments — just as we often do for other major infrastructure projects. These assessments should evaluate cumulative impacts on air quality, water resources, stormwater systems, noise, tree canopy, greenhouse gas emissions, and community health outcomes before approvals are granted.
Charlotte has an opportunity to lead by recognizing digital infrastructure as critical infrastructure — and ensuring that its development protects both innovation and the long-term health of our communities.