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Dozens urge Durham commissioners to adopt a loophole‑free moratorium on data centers
Summary
Community members, environmental groups and health advocates packed the comment period to urge a county moratorium on data centers, citing water use, PFAS, noise, climate and equity impacts; speakers asked for no carve‑outs.
Dozens of residents and coalition groups used the meeting’s public‑comment period to urge the Durham County Board of Commissioners to pass a strong, loophole‑free moratorium on new data centers.
Speakers from organizations including Community Land and Power, Southerners on New Ground, Sunrise Movement, Clean Water for North Carolina and the North Carolina Black Alliance described the environmental and social risks they associate with hyperscale facilities. "A moratorium is about stopping things," said Leslie St. Dre, representing Community Land and Power, arguing Durham should "take a big pause and study the impacts." Jade Brooks read a long list of coalition endorsers and asked the board to prioritize constituents over industry profits.
Health and scientific concerns were a frequent theme. "The first is water contamination from PFAS," said Rachel Meyer, a health advocate, and she urged a moratorium to permit careful study and protective regulation. Clean Water for North Carolina’s Stephanie Ganz criticized draft language that would exempt certain projects, and asked instead for a special‑use permit process that requires public hearings and clear PFAS safeguards.
Industry and economic voices also addressed the board. Scott Levitan of the Research Triangle Foundation said data centers are critical infrastructure for RTP companies and recommended the moratorium include a pathway for enterprise‑scale centers; other commenters warned that hypereconomic incentives and tax breaks should be fully accounted for.
Speakers pressed the board for a strong pause with few exceptions; staff and commissioners acknowledged the breadth of concerns and said they would take the testimony into account during the ordinance drafting and ahead of the Aug. 24 public hearing.
