Raleigh’s city council is set to consider a six‑month pause on new large‑scale data center projects. The proposal, approved in a closed‑session meeting on Tuesday, will be drafted by the city attorney and placed on the agenda for the Oct. 6 council meeting.
Why the pause?
City officials say the temporary moratorium will allow staff and the public to study the substantial land, electricity and water demands of hyperscale data centers. Recent public concern over these utilities has prompted similar pauses in Durham, Greensboro and Charlotte.
What’s the process?
Raleigh already permits “edge” data centers—facilities under 10,000 square feet that use modest resources—under existing industrial zoning. Larger projects require Industrial Mixed‑Use or Heavy Industrial zoning and a special‑use permit from the Board of Adjustment.
Mayor Pro Tem Jane Harrison emphasized the need for transparency, noting that residents should be informed before large data centers reach the Board for approval. “I appreciate staff just helping to inform our community when these are coming so they’re not a surprise to anyone,” she said in August.
Next steps
Residents will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed moratorium at a public hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 6. Mayor Janet Cowell will address the council at 10:30 a.m. that morning, outlining the rationale and expected timeline for the pause.
The moratorium is not a ban; it is a temporary hold while the city gathers data and evaluates the long‑term impact of data center growth on Raleigh’s infrastructure and resources.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
