6 Months Isn’t Enough: Give Raleigh 32 Months Before Data Centers Move Forward

Raleigh City Council

Raleigh deserves more than six months.

Raleigh City Council is considering a temporary six-month pause on major data center development approvals. We believe six months is not enough time to understand the long-term consequences these facilities could have on our water, electricity, neighborhoods, environment, and utility bills.

We're calling on Raleigh City Council to adopt a 32-month moratorium on new data center development and expansion.

Why 32 months?

Because we're not asking Raleigh to simply pause development. We're asking the City to use that time to do the work.

The proposed 32-month framework would give Raleigh time to:

  • Months 1–6: Study impacts on water, energy, noise, pollution, utility rates, and land use with residents, utilities, and experts.

  • Months 6–12: Develop specific regulations and performance standards.

  • Months 12–18: Hold public workshops and gather community input.

  • Months 18–24: Review the research and develop recommendations.

  • Months 24–32: Hold public hearings and consider final protections.

And throughout the process: public input and expert advice.

This matters now. North Carolina already has 52 data centers, with 24 hyperscale facilities proposed as of June 2026. Some data centers are permitted to use several million gallons of freshwater every day, while placing significant demands on the electric grid.

Once these facilities are built, communities have to live with the consequences.

We have time to get this right. Let's use it.

Sign the petition calling on Raleigh City Council to extend the proposed data center moratorium from 6 months to 32 months — giving our city enough time to study the impacts, hear from residents, develop strong protections, and make informed decisions about Raleigh's future.

To: Raleigh City Council
From: [Your Name]

I am calling on Raleigh City Council to adopt a 32-month moratorium on new data centers, data-processing facilities, cryptocurrency mining facilities, and the expansion of existing data centers within the City of Raleigh.

Six months is not enough time to fully understand the long-term impacts these facilities could have on our water, energy infrastructure, utility costs, environment, and neighborhoods.

A 32-month moratorium would give the City time to study these impacts, develop appropriate regulations, hold public workshops, hear directly from residents and experts, and adopt long-term protections before additional development moves forward.

Raleigh has an opportunity to get this right before making decisions that could affect our communities for decades. I urge City Council to extend the proposed six-month moratorium to 32 months and ensure residents have a meaningful role in determining what data-center development looks like in our city.