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Public raises environment, tax and infrastructure concerns as council leaves data-center ordinance tabled
Summary
Public commenters urged New Castle County Council to adopt stronger environmental and fiscal controls on data centers while a pro-labor speaker highlighted jobs; Council left substitute 2 to Ordinance 25-101 tabled and heard multiple online callers.
New Castle County Council heard nearly half an hour of public comment on data centers on Feb. 3, 2026, with speakers offering mixed views on jobs, taxes and environmental impact.
Matthew Amendola, a 20-year union electrician with IBW Local 313, urged the council to welcome data centers as economic opportunities that can create high-wage, union careers. “This is our moment,” Amendola said, arguing that well-managed data centers could modernize the grid and help local tax bases.
Online and in-person commenters called for tighter controls. Robin Roberts asked for more environmental impact studies before approving any data centers. Jacob Walls urged the county to create responsible, retroactive regulation to protect communities from water and energy stress. Dale Swain warned that tax breaks and R&D credits mean data centers may provide far less in local tax revenue than advertised, offering rough estimates of county and school revenue that he said were much lower than proponents’ figures.
Councilman Carter and others noted the ordinance on data centers (substitute 2 to Ordinance 25-101) remains tabled; Councilman Carter earlier announced the ordinance would remain on the table. Council did not vote on the ordinance tonight.
Several speakers also urged the county to clarify electricity-infrastructure impacts and water use prior to approval. Council members did not take action on the item and left the ordinance in its current status for further committee consideration.
