Housing & Development · Stokes County
Stokes County Commission Approves Contested Data Center Project
The Stokes County Commission in North Carolina voted 3-2 to approve a hyperscale data center campus proposed by developer ELS near Walnut Cove. The project has sparked significant local opposition due to concerns over water usage, noise, air pollution, and potential impacts on native gravesites. Despite the county's strong Republican lean, residents across the political spectrum have protested the development, citing environmental and economic worries. The commission previously reversed an initial approval following a lawsuit but voted in favor again after further review.