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Cumberland County seeks rules for data centers as staff will draft ordinance and hold public comment
Summary
Cumberland County commissioners heard an overview of data‑center types, infrastructure needs and local regulatory options on Feb. 19, 2026. Staff will draft a text amendment focused on hyperscale facilities, pursue planning‑board input and open a public comment period (proposed March 16).
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Cumberland County commissioners on Feb. 19 convened an informational meeting to hear economic‑development and planning staff describe the technical, environmental and land‑use implications of growing data‑center development and to outline a path for local regulations.
Robert Van Gheens, president of the Fayetteville–Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, told the board that data‑center projects range from small server rooms to “hyperscalers” that can demand tens to hundreds of megawatts of power and hundreds of acres. “Power generation by an independent third party in our community that is not a utility causes me a bit of pause,” Van Gheens said, urging the county to require intensive review of non‑utility on‑site generation.
Van Gheens said utilities and cooling choice drive site suitability. He said larger standalone centers commonly seek 100‑megawatt‑class service and sites in the 150–300‑acre range, and that cooling and backup systems can produce noise and…
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