Neighbors split on proposed third data center for Richmond County

RICHMOND COUNTY, N.C. — Neighbors in Richmond County are speaking out against a possible third data center in the area, and one state legislator is telling 9 Investigates that there needs to be more transparency.

It’s been less than two weeks since neighbors showed up at a public hearing upset about the current data center sites.

“I think it’s good that the citizens have the opportunity to speak on the matter,” Hamilton told Channel 9’s Gina Esposito.

Hamilton lives in the farmstead community off of Old Cheraw Highway, near where a company wants to build a data center in Rockingham. Another neighbor told Channel 9 they support the project, while Hamilton says he doesn’t like the idea.

“I think the consequences far outweigh the pros,” Hamilton said.

The city says the project would be a $1.2 billion investment and would include several buildings. The data center would employ 30 people.

A staff report includes findings on a noise study, and expected water usage. The company behind the data center says the cooling system will be a “closed-loop system” that uses significantly less water than the originally proposed 75,000 gallons per day.

North Carolina state House Rep. Ben Moss of District 52, who used to own the land, says residents should be able to weigh in on the rezoning request before the project moves forward. Moss currently lives on the property, but he plans to move to a more rural area.

The city says the company had initially planned to build a large residential community, but changed course.

“The transparency has to be there,” Moss said. “The people, they’re entitled to the right to have some discussion and to ask questions and be heard.”

Rockingham’s planning board unanimously recommended that council rezone the property from high-density residential to conditional light industry. Council won’t vote until there’s a public hearing, and the date for that hearing will be set on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, people in Waxhaw will be able to weigh in on a one-year pause on data centers. The Board of Commissioners has a public hearing set to discuss the issue, and leaders say this gives them enough time to study the possible impacts of data centers on the town.

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