The Durham City Council briefly discussed a proposed 24-month moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations at a Thursday meeting as officials and residents pressed for more time to study the industry's environmental footprint.
Councilman Nate Baker introduced the ordinance and said the city should act before the issue grows harder to manage. He said data centers have a "number of detrimental impacts" and framed the proposal as a conservative, proactive step for Durham.
The debate lands as nearby governments move in the same direction. Apex leaders and Orange County commissioners approved one-year moratoriums this week, and five towns in North Carolina plus Chatham County have also passed pauses on data centers. Durham could become the first major city in the Triangle to stall expansion as the region's tech corridor sees more development.
The city already has data centers, including a CyrusOne facility in Research Triangle Park that covers more than 420,000 square feet. Residents and officials warned that more projects could strain the power grid, rely on fossil fuels, and draw heavily on water supplies that serve 1.5 million people. Big stakes.
Resident Rinah Rachel Galper told council members that "the impacts outweigh the benefits" and called data center development "a land grab of catastrophic proportions." Resident Jaina Sims said council members did not need to rush decisions that could allow more facilities into the city.
A public hearing on the proposed ordinance is scheduled for the May 4 Durham City Council meeting.