Proposed North Carolina Data Center Withdrawn After Community Pushback

A proposed data center project in Eastern North Carolina has officially been abandoned after months of public opposition from residents who raised concerns about its potential impact on local resources and quality of life.

County officials announced that Energy Storage Solutions is no longer pursuing plans to build a data center in the Kingsboro Business Park in Edgecombe County. During a recent Board of Commissioners meeting, County Manager Eric Evans confirmed the project had been withdrawn and said the county would return the company's land deposit.

The proposed development included more than 120 acres of wooded property within Kingsboro Business Park. However, growing resistance from residents and uncertainty from investors ultimately brought the project to an end.

Energy Storage Solutions President Dan Shaffer said investor confidence declined following delays, community opposition and similar challenges the company faced with another proposed data center in nearby Tarboro. According to Shaffer, investors ultimately chose to move forward with projects located in what he described as "friendlier communities."

The company also confirmed it will no longer pursue its Tarboro proposal after the town rejected its permit application last year, ending another controversial project that had resulted in legal action.

Much of the public's concern centered on the growing demand large-scale data centers place on local infrastructure. During public comments, residents questioned whether the economic benefits would outweigh the strain on groundwater supplies, electricity demand and the environment.

Community member Vinson Bridgers warned county leaders that the region's groundwater levels have continued to decline while the nearby Tar River has reached historically low levels. He also expressed concern that increasing electricity demand from a major data center could contribute to higher utility costs or strain the power grid, pointing to similar issues that have affected parts of Northern Virginia where data centers are heavily concentrated.

As debate over the proposal intensified, the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners voted to consider a two-year moratorium on future data center developments. Supporters of the temporary pause said it would give county leaders time to better understand the long-term impacts such facilities could have on local communities before approving additional projects.

While officials emphasized they are not permanently closing the door on future data center developments, the withdrawal of the Kingsboro proposal reflects the growing scrutiny these projects are receiving as communities weigh economic development against environmental and infrastructure concerns.