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Residents urge Lee County commissioners to impose moratorium on fracking and proposed AI data center
Summary
Dozens of residents and environmental advocates told the Lee County Board of Commissioners that proposed on-site gas extraction and a planned AI data center would threaten groundwater, property values and local control and urged a temporary moratorium to study impacts before applications arrive.
Dozens of residents and environmental advocates urged the Lee County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 5 to adopt a moratorium on drilling, hydraulic fracturing and the development of a proposed AI data center on the Deep River watershed.
At the start of public comments, Matthew Clark told commissioners: "I specifically wanna voice my opposition to the data center," warning the "AI bubble is starting to deflate" and arguing private-equity backing and component shortages make the economic case for a local data center and on-site gas extraction uncertain. Multiple speakers echoed that theme, saying a rushed project could leave the county with an abandoned facility and compromised groundwater.
Several residents detailed local concerns about water and health. "I'm very concerned about…
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