In this 6-part series, BPR, the NC Newsroom, WFAE, and WUNC explore North Carolina's accelerating data-center boom and its real impact on local communities.
Through on-the-ground reporting, document reviews, and conversations with residents, the series examines how Big Tech is reshaping small towns, consuming vast amounts of power, and striking deals that aren't always clear. It explores who benefits, who bears the cost, and why North Carolina has become an appealing target for server farms despite modest public scrutiny. By following the money, the energy demands, and the promises made to communities, the project aims to reveal what's at stake as the cloud moves into the state's backroads.
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Zachary Turner/WFAE NewsThere are about 100 data centers in the state that account for up to 3% of the state’s energy demand. That demand is expected to more than double by 2030, as the market for larger facilities grows to accommodate these rapidly evolving technologies. -
Celeste Guajardo/WUNC NewsData centers use cooling systems to keep its technology running smoothly. These cooling systems can cause local water pollution and strain existing water resources. This comes as climate change makes drought more frequent and severe. -
Jesse Barber/for WUNCIn rural counties, new developments have prompted soul searching about the lack of land use rules, and many are wondering what can still be done. -
Zachary Turner/WFAEA single data center can require as much energy as an entire power plant produces in a year. North Carolina's largest utility has proposed the country’s most ambitious capital plan to meet the projected demand from these power-hungry facilities. -
Edgecombe CountyOpposition to data centers is 'catching a fire' across North Carolina, spurring political challengesAs local officials in North Carolina consider whether to approve data center projects or halt development with moratoriums, their decisions are having political repercussions. -
Eli Chen/WUNCIf you need a basic understanding of data centers, we've produced a zine to serve as a guide for what they are, the trade-offs involved, and a starter list of questions if one gets proposed for your community. -
Jesse Barber/for WUNCNorth Carolina originally passed its data center tax exemption in 2006. Gov. Josh Stein is calling for it to be changed or repealed, saying it belongs to a different time.
Credits
Reporters: Celeste Guajardo, Katie Myers, Zachary Turner, Adam Wagner
Illustrator: Eli Chen
Social Media Producer: Josh Sullivan
Broadcast Editor: Elizabeth Baier
Digital Editor: Jason deBruyn
News Director: Brent Wolfe