Data Center agenda item

[John Rees]

Dear members of the Board of County Commissioners.

I am contacting you today regarding your discussion item on data centers.  

While I am not an expert, the reading I have done shows there are both environmental issues and environmental justice issues regarding the of siting of data centers.

Since Orange County doesn't currently have specific wording in the UDO regulating land uses for data centers, enacting a moratorium - and then working with county staff and subject matter experts would allow for rules that would better control data centers and regulate them in such a way that they do not impose both an environmental and economic impact on county residents. 

The Sierra Club has a handy (and not too large) document that suggests regulations and topics of consideration, and also citations on what other states have done. 

https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/default/files/2026-01/policies-for-data-centers-2026.pdf

For me, the key things to consider are 

Not making incumbent ratepayers take the risk of paying for capacity that services data centers exclusively, or capacity that is stated to be need and then not used (leaving ratepayers wit hate bill) 

Clean Energy Comes First

Data centers will have backup electric generation. These generators are nearly always diesel powered.  With the associated emissions from large diesel motors 

"Emergency use" 

In thinking of the 'back up generators',  the expectation to most of us is these generators would operate only in times when the primary source of power is lost. 

However part of the regulations should consider what consists of an emergency. Data centers may switch to their backup systems when their primary costs of electric goes up. Meaning, the generators will run all the time as long as they produce electric cheaper . This means people near by will hear the generators and live with the emissions 

There are a lot of things to consider, and my email has already gotten too long, but that also proves the point that time and thoughtful analysis needs to be made before allowing data centers in Orange County

Thank You 

John Rees

Chapel Hill 

[Jean Hamilton]

Dear John Rees,

 

On behalf of the Orange County Board of Commissioners thank you for sharing your concerns about and information on the impact of data centers on our community.  As you may know, the Board has directed staff to prepare for a legislative public hearing to declare a moratorium for one year on "large-scale data centers" on April 21, 2026 and to initiate an amendment to the Orange County Unified Development Ordinance.

 

Sincerely,

Jean

 

Jean Hamilton, Chair

Orange County Board of Commissioners

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From: John Rees <jre...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 12:01 PM
To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Cc: kathy kaufman <kknar...@yahoo.com>
Subject: Data Center agenda item

 

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