Local Politics · Chatham County
Chatham County Leaders Call for Statewide Data Center Moratorium
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, Chatham County leaders and environmental activists gathered at the Pittsboro Community House to urge Governor Josh Stein to enact a statewide moratorium on data center construction. The event, organized by the Haw River Assembly, included speakers such as Haw Riverkeeper Emily Sutton and Chatham County Board of Commissioners Chair Amanda Robertson, who also opposed three proposed amendments to the North Carolina state constitution and Enbridge's proposed natural gas pipeline ending in Moncure. On Thursday, Oct. 29, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to apply for a text amendment to the Chatham County Zoning Board related to data centers, with a legislative public hearing scheduled for Nov. 30. The county previously enacted its own 12-month data center moratorium in February, which developer Kirk Bradley challenged in court; a visiting judge ruled in his favor, and a trial on damages is set for April.