WSOC/WRAL poll finds North Carolinians are split on data center development

CHARLOTTE — Data center development is arguably the most polarizing issue in the country right now. Charlotte residents saw it play out earlier this week as people called on Charlotte City Council to extend its moratorium on new construction.

“We should not be in a rush to build data centers across the country when there is ample evidence of risk,” resident Marjorie Storch said.

“You cannot claim to care about the future of Charlotte and our children and also allow data centers,” resident Trinity Maeshack said.

But a new WSOC/WRAL poll administered by SurveyUSA shows North Carolinians are split on this issue. The poll, which was administered October 7-11, told respondents that data centers can bring investment and tax revenue to North Carolina but they can also require large amounts of electricity and water. When asked with that in mind, what approach should North Carolina take, 43 percent said they support at least some development and 42 percent said they do not.

Diving deeper, 37 percent said they should allow development but require data centers to pay the full cost of energy, water and infrastructure and 29 percent said they should oppose additional development.

The lack of a consensus surprised political expert Chris Cooper.

“I’m a little surprised because my guess would have been most people would be against data centers,” he said. “That appears to be what we’re hearing from local governments. When I get ads in my mailbox and I see them on YouTube and on TV, I see trying to nail the other candidate for being for data centers and what that might mean.

The poll found support for at least some development is at 56 percent among Whatley voters, 53 percent among Republicans and 51 percent among conservatives. It found opposition is at 58 percent among both Cooper voters and Democrats and at 54 percent among liberals.

NC voters favor legal marijuana

While the General Assembly hasn’t moved much on marijuana use, public opinion shows it is in favor of state law changes. The poll found 74 percent say medical marijuana should be legal in North Carolina and 15 percent say it should remain against the law. The poll found majorities in all parts of the state and among all demographic subgroups favor legalization of medical marijuana. A smaller majority, 63 percent, say the use of marijuana for recreational use should be made legal, with 26 percent saying it should remain against the law. The poll found majorities in most demographic groups support legalization, as do pluralities of Whatley voters and somewhat conservative voters.

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