data center

Stokes County commissioners voted 3–2 to make way for a massive data center in Walnut Cove, despite loud opposition from residents.

Opponents say a Stokes County data center proposal threatens land tied to Indigenous and enslaved peoples’ history. The rezoning request goes before county leaders tonight.

Thousands have signed a petition opposing a proposed data center in Stokes County.

Energy experts gathered in Raleigh this week to discuss how North Carolina’s energy grid — and ratepayers’ wallets — will handle the incoming wave of new data centers.

Large data centers like the ones recently announced in Richmond and Rockingham counties come with significant energy and water needs. Data centers can require 200 megawatts of power or more, and they use millions of gallons of water every day for evaporative cooling.

On Wednesday, Amazon announced that it will invest approximately $10 billion and add 500 jobs with a new data center campus to be built in Richmond County, North Carolina.