Residents of Rowan County are rallying against a proposed data center, criticizing county leaders for lack of transparency
ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. โ The fight over potential data center development in Rowan County is intensifying, as residents demand answers and county leaders move forward with new restrictions.
Rowan County Commissioner’s meeting lasted near 4 hours with the primary focus over the potential data center.ย
Dozens of residents gathered outside a county meeting this week, chanting โNo data centers,โ before packing the chambers to voice concerns about a proposed project tied to property on Long Ferry Road.
The community members frustrated with the project have gotten over 5,000 signatures against the potential data center.ย
โWhy would you put it out in that poor community, why not put it in the rich area,โ Salvatore Cerebone Jr., a Rowan County resident living feet away from the site, said.
Many residents say their concerns are on transparency, arguing they still donโt have clear answers about what is being planned.
โOur concerns are still transparency, more is coming to light every day, questions citizens have brought up and were told are not the case are,โ Shannon Solomon, a community organizer, said.
County officials previously said the property was purchased by a developer evaluating the site for a potential data center campus. While leaders say there is no confirmed contract, they outlined a set of expectations that any future developer would need to meet.
โWe still intend to act, we will engage now the current landowner with specific community expectations; will they cooperate?” Rowan County Commission Chairman Greg Edds said. “We fully believe they have a strong incentive to cooperate.โย
In response to growing concerns, commissioners voted 4-0 to approve a one-year moratorium on future data center projects. However, the moratorium does not apply to the proposed development on Long Ferry Road and will not take effect until May 4.ย
The reason for the delay is due to commissioner Craig Pierce abruptly walking out of the meeting during pubic comment and not returning.ย
โI think the concern of people behind me is saying we will put pressure on data center but your own commissioner walked out of the room on a night thatโs incredibly important and to you all, itโs really unacceptable behavior,โ Samantha Haspel, a concerned resident, said
Haspel wasn’t alone as multiple residents spoke out loudly about this distaste for Pierce’s absence.ย
โThis is an erosion of trust for what we thought we were coming here for tonight, especially given that all commissioners were in this room when this started,โ Haspel said.
For many residents, the moratorium is only a first step โ and the biggest questions about the future of the Long Ferry Road site remain unanswered.
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