We the undersigned, call on NC Governor Josh Stein to immediately:

• Implement a 2-year moratorium on the development and approval of any and all new and proposed data centers.
• Stop all state tax incentives and other subsidies for data centers.
• Stop monopoly Duke Energy from recruiting data centers, which it does to justify its nation-leading expansion of fossil fuels for power.
• Ensure that all proposed and existing data centers disclose all critical information to the public promptly and with ample time for communities to make informed decisions.
• Establish an innovative, transparent and democratic decision-making process that prioritizes the interests and voices of targeted communities in the face of unchecked data center recruitment and development.

Why Governor Stein must act:

Data center developers and Duke Energy use secrecy and deception as key tactics to target vulnerable communities across North Carolina for disruptive and polluting data centers, thus shutting out communities from meaningful engagement in decision-making.  

Data center developments have faced well-deserved backlash from communities across the state and nation due to their massive power and water usage, air, water and noise pollution, economic burdens on the public, low job creation, etc.

Many communities targeted for data centers will also be saddled with massive new fossil fuel power plants and pipelines.

Furthermore, concerns are mounting nationally about AI’s role enhancing government and corporate surveillance, war-making, and other threats to humanity.

The rapid expansion of data centers across North Carolina far outpaces our ability to study the extent of impacts on climate, people, and the environment, thus necessitating a 2-year moratorium. 

For more information, visit NC WARN at ncwarn.org.