CHARLOTTE — Charlotte City leaders have voted to extend the pause on new data center developments.
The pause will extend for another year.
Council members said they are waiting on multiple things before any permanent moves can be made, mainly a move from the state.
The decision from Charlotte City Council was unanimous.
Council members said the extension was necessary, because they need more time to study the best way to regulate the growing industry.
“We have the freedom of the duration of the moratorium to do what we think is necessary,” said Ed Driggs, council member.
The North Carolina General Assembly was brought up multiple times Monday night.
Council says they are waiting on Raleigh to make several decisions. Those include any new laws that could modify how local governments are allowed to regulate data centers, any regulations the state itself puts on centers, and whether a proposed state-wide two-year moratorium that was put forward with bipartisan support will pass the general assembly.
“That we are able to see some of our authorities be reinstated to us in terms of how we plan and develop certain properties and parcels throughout the city of Charlotte,” said Council member JD Mazuera Arias.
Some council members said they are hopeful that the murky waters can be made clear, because they want Charlotte to experience the benefits data centers can bring, such as job growth.
Some members bringing up concerns they heard from labor unions that say this moratorium is keeping them from attaining new work.
“This is an economic opportunity that we’re seeing expand throughout the country,” said Danté Anderson, council member.
Council also said they want to make sure any future centers don’t hurt the city’s infrastructure, like water and clean air.
“My question, and hopefully it will be answered is what is that distance from residential and proposed residential?” Council member LaWana Mayfield said.
Some council members also mentioned that they wanted city staff to look into what they can do to regulate centers that have already been approved for construction.
Those approved before the original moratorium passed in June can still move forward.