Triad mayors debate data centers, growth and utility strain

At Tuesday’s Greensboro Regional Realtors Association mayor panel, leaders from Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem and Burlington weighed data centers against power, water and neighborhood costs.

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines urged the region not to turn away reflexively from major investment, but he also warned that data centers can pressure power and water systems and create noise concerns for nearby residents. Joines said he would consider a power utility surcharge so data centers help pay for the resources they consume. High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson struck a similar balance, saying leaders have to weigh utility bills, sound and environmental concerns while recognizing that a blanket ban would not fit a modern economy.

Greensboro Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter said her city wants to be open to data centers, but only if clear standards are in place, especially on water use. She tied the issue to neighborhood protection as well, pointing to public safety and school-zone concerns and saying Greensboro still wants ways to reduce dangerous driving.

State lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 730, the Ratepayer Protection Act. The measure would require large data centers to use closed-loop or liquid cooling systems, and it would require site assessments for noise impacts near homes and schools. It would also allow local governments to weigh effects on water, air quality, agricultural resources and thermal plumes before approval. More than two dozen North Carolina communities have already adopted moratoriums or zoning restrictions on data centers, and Charlotte approved a 150-day moratorium on new development June 16.

In Rural Hall, leaders reversed an earlier stance and moved to support a proposed data center after a contentious public meeting. Greensboro is also already tied to the broader AI supply chain: Lumentum Holdings Inc. announced a new advanced manufacturing facility in the city in March, and the company makes technology used for large-scale AI data centers.

The county says water and sewer service is split among Greensboro, High Point and Burlington. A data center can bring a big capital investment and a stronger tax parcel; a manufacturing or mixed-use project on the same land could bring more workers and more daily activity.