Amazon Data Services seeks permit for diesel backup engines at Hamlet data center

The Division of Air Quality opened a public hearing July 30 to collect comments on a draft air quality permit for Amazon Data Services' proposed Energy Way Tech campus at 1761 Airport Road, Hamlet, Richmond County.

Hearing officer Davis Murphy said the purpose of the proceeding was "to receive your comments for consideration in the issuance of 2 separate air quality permits." He read the application summary into the record, identifying the Amazon site and its address. The transcript of the hearing lists the proposed equipment as "5 88 critical diesel fired emergency engines," a formulation that is unclear in the transcript and therefore not taken as a precise count here; the application materials are available at DAQ offices and online for verification.

Emily Supple, the permit engineer the agency named to discuss the Amazon application, was called to present but the available transcript does not capture her substantive presentation. Members of the public raised concerns about health and equity impacts associated with data-center energy use. Danielle Steed, who identified herself as "co-director of the North Carolina Environmental Justice Act," told the hearing she opposed permitting that she said would "simply benefit the billionaires of Amazon and Duke Energy rather than the residents of this county and this state."

The Division of Air Quality is accepting written comments by email, voicemail, mail or the hearing drop box through Friday, July 31, 2026. After the comment period closes, the hearing officer said he will make a recommendation to the director of the Division of Air Quality for consideration in the final permit decision.