Resident urges pause on rezoning for proposed 1,850-acre data center, citing pollution and grid strain

Tim Abe, a Walnut Cove property owner near the proposed site, urged the Stokes County Board of Commissioners to reconsider rezoning 1,850 acres for a large data center, citing energy use, air quality and noise concerns. He told the board data centers “use a loophole in the log to pollute” and said temporary mobile gas-turbine generators that sometimes operate at data centers can run for years and lack local permitting oversight.

Abe pointed to regional examples and energy figures to underline his warning, noting that “an average 300 megawatt data center uses as much energy as 30,000 homes” and asking why the county should rezone for a facility of this scale. He urged the board to require projects to be grid-connected at scale, saying, “Ideally, this data center shouldn't operate till it gets 95% of its energy from Duke Power.”

Commissioners did not take immediate action on the rezoning request at the meeting; they acknowledged the environmental and infrastructure concerns and indicated staff will continue to review permitting and zoning implications as the proposal advances through formal channels. The public comment was given during the meeting’s public-comment period and drew support from residents who highlighted possible unequal local impacts if on-site generation is sited adjacent to single landowners.