A 50-acre data center projects 500 jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue to the town of Tarboro.
However, residents are urging town leaders to turn down the project, unconvinced that it will be as beneficial as promised.
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Energy Storage Solutions LLC wants to build the 300-megawatt site on Anaconda Road in Tarboro in eight phases over the next three to five years. The company’s president, Dan Shaffer, said he expects it to cost $6.4 billion total and generate $11 million for the town.
A public hearing was scheduled during Monday's town council meeting to consider a special use permit for the project. The pushback brought more people than seats to Tarboro Town Hall.
Developers say it will bring business in, but neighbors have concerns about its proximity to homes, and impact to the environment.
“It just doesn’t seem like a good fit for this town,” one resident said.
Tarboro’s mayor Tate Mayo even recused himself from its hearing saying he couldn’t be impartial.
Experts testified about whether the project meets legal standards.
“I am here trying to talk about incredibly complex issues that are going to affect the legitimacy and viability and economic feasibility of this project quite frankly,” another resident said.
As of Monday evening, more than 700 people signed a Change.org petition against it.
“The Town Council must consider these undeniable risks and costs to our way of life. Voting "no" on the special use permit is crucial to preserve our town’s character, protect our environment, and ensure that economic gains are not short-lived or misleading,” the petition reads.
Vinson Bridgers grew up in Tarboro. He believes he and his neighbors didn’t get enough time or opportunity to learn about the project – one that would make big changes to his hometown.
“I do not think the incentives to bring this center to the Tarboro area is a good move because of the water consumption,” he said.
Bridgers also does not think the company should be allowed to build the facility in such a residential area. The current site backs up to multiple homes.
People told WRAL News they want the town to be transparent. Multiple people shared concerns about the air quality, the noise and its potential demand on the water system.
Shaffer said the state and federal governments set regulations for air quality. Based on engineer’s estimates, he said the site would use about 500,000 gallons of water each day. According to the town website, the water plant has a capacity of 6 million gallons per day, with 2 million available for new or expanding industries.
He also said the center will generate its own energy.
“We're very conscious of the environment ourselves, having been solar developers,” Shaffer said.
Shaffer said his company is tapping into a growing industry: Artificial intelligence.
“Every time someone takes a picture with their phone, or someone's downloading things on the internet, you have to have data centers all over the country to support this,” he told WRAL News. “With the addition of AI…the demand is going to grow and grow.”
This battle isn’t unique to Edgecombe County. Some people in Wake County are also resisting a proposal to erect a data center near Apex.
Shaffer said the company is also working to build two other data centers in Edgecombe County: one on Powell Road and another in Kingsboro.
“Tarboro is only the beginning of what we're prepared to do,” he said. “We think this is the future of business in America.”
Shaffer said investing in Tarboro could also encourage young professionals to stay in the area.
“There's just too many unknowns to start slapping one, two [or] three down in our county,” Bridgers said.