Residents urge Swain County to halt permitting for data centers and crypto mines; commissioners will vote in April

Bryson City, N.C. — Dozens of residents told the Swain County Board of Commissioners at a March 31 public hearing that the county should adopt a moratorium — or a permanent ban — on permitting high-impact facilities such as data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations and server farms in unincorporated Swain County.

The hearing, called by the board to solicit public comment, drew repeated warnings about water consumption, noise and threats to the county’s tourism-based economy. The board said it will not vote at the hearing; commissioners indicated they will consider and vote on a moratorium at a regular April meeting.

Residents and longtime property owners described the county’s reliance on its natural resources and urged elected officials to move quickly. “It is up to us to protect our mountains, our creeks, our rivers, our hollers, from the damage that would be done if a high impact facility was allowed,” said Christine Tindall, who identified herself as a Swain County resident of more than 30 years.

Many speakers cited water use as a central concern. “One of the big worst things a data center will do is use up a whole lot of water,” said Matthew Brigham, who told commissioners he had researched the issue; he cited an asserted low-end figure of about 300,000 gallons per day and said only 20 to 30 percent of that water is returned. Celia Baker, an information-technology and data-regulation professional who said she works with AI clients and has experience with data centers, told the board that AI and crypto facilities can be “exponentially more demanding in megawatts, in utility, in drain on water” than ordinary cloud centers.

Speakers also raised noise and quality-of-life issues. Brian Hart said residents had described cooling systems that produce a constant hum and cited a reported noise level “up to 85 decibels,” comparing persistent operation to “a leaf blower blowing 24 hours a day.” Several residents said such noise and light intrusion had affected property values and sleep in other communities where data centers were built.

Public commenters urged a range of actions beyond a moratorium: drafting specific land-use ordinances and performance standards, appointing a citizens committee to assist with drafting, hiring outside counsel to prepare legally durable rules, and requiring pre-permit water-impact assessments, setbacks and enforceable noise thresholds. “This moratorium gives us one year to decide what we want to address,” said Fred Crawford, a land surveyor who recommended moving drafting earlier in the schedule and involving outside expertise to avoid vague language that could be struck down under North Carolina law.

Speakers also warned that promised community benefits often do not materialize. Several residents pointed to nearby counties as cautionary examples and urged commissioners to prioritize long-term environmental protection over short-term revenue or one-time financial offers.

Commissioners did not debate or answer questions during the hearing. A commissioner told the audience that the board cannot vote during a public hearing and that the moratorium would be scheduled for a vote at a regular session in April, with a preceding work session. After the hearing the board moved to adjourn and then into a closed session under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(6) for personnel matters.

Next steps: the board will take a formal vote on the proposed moratorium at its April regular session; no policy was adopted at the March 31 hearing.