Mooresville residents urge commissioners to block TRAC data center return, raise health and farmland concerns

During the Sept. 2 public‑comment period at the Mooresville Board of Commissioners meeting, residents warned against future data‑center development in town and urged commissioners to remain alert if a reorganized developer seeks approval.

“My name is Lynn Taylor. I have been a Mooresville resident for about 20 years,” Taylor said, and told the board she brought “footnoted resources” to support her claims that data centers harm the environment and public health. Taylor said the developer TRAC is reorganizing and — if it returns — town leaders should continue to oppose data‑center proposals. “We cannot stop communicating about the mounting evidence that data centers are bad for the environment, toxic to people, and not the economic boom that has been promised,” she said.

Taylor alleged several specific harms as claims: that data centers increase carbon footprints and energy consumption; that data‑center wastes contain toxins that could pollute land and water; that local biodiversity (including pollinator populations) can be harmed; and that energy and water used by data centers could otherwise supply households. Those assertions were presented as the speaker’s evidence and advocacy; the board did not take action on the comments during the meeting.

Also speaking during public comment, Patrick Wright of Gable Road thanked first responders and town employees and said he remained concerned that “your electricity rates will be going up” if data centers locate in the area. Richard Beck told the board he has repeatedly raised concerns about the Planning and Community Development Department’s operations and urged a range of state and federal agencies — including the North Carolina Department of Justice, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Local Government Commission and the N.C. League of Municipalities — to investigate “shenanigans” he said are occurring in town government.

What happened at the meeting

All of the remarks came during the public‑comment section; none of the speakers proposed or presented a formal town petition or ordinance. Board members acknowledged the comments but did not vote or direct immediate action related to the data‑center remarks during the meeting.

What was not established at the meeting

Speakers made empirical claims about health and environmental impacts and cited organizations and statistics; the transcript records those as the speakers’ assertions. The board did not verify those claims in the meeting record, and staff did not present supporting studies or findings during public comment. Where speakers referenced specific developers or organizations (for example, naming TRAC and listing out‑of‑state company locations), the transcript records those attributions as part of the comments.

Speakers