Why does one data center need nearly 650 diesel generators?
That's one of the questions expected to dominate a public hearing Thursday evening as North Carolina regulators consider draft air permits for Amazon's $10 billion data center campus in Richmond County and Duke Energy's temporary generators that would power the site until permanent electric service is available.
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Amazon has applied for permits covering 588 emergency backup generators across its planned 21-building campus. Duke Energy is seeking approval to modify an existing permit for 57 temporary bridge power generators until the campus is connected to the electric grid.
Bill Norton, a Duke Energy spokesman, said those 57 leased portable generators would provide temporary power only during construction and testing, are permitted to operate for less than a year and will be paid for by Amazon Web Services rather than Duke Energy customers.
Combined, the projects would bring 645 diesel generators to the site. That scale has become a focal point for some residents.
For William Ingram, co-founder of the Richmond County Coalition for Justice and Black Empowerment, the hearing is about more than permit limits. He said many residents are only now learning the scale of the project.
"I was surprised," Ingram said. "A lot of folks had no idea this is the type of Amazon center coming here. We all thought it was going to be a distribution center."
Ingram said he spent Wednesday handing out fact sheets throughout Richmond County and talking with residents ahead of Thursday's hearing.
"We're not against development," Ingram said. "We want inclusion. All we're asking is that you include us in these decisions."
Amazon said each of the campus's 21 buildings requires backup power to ensure uninterrupted service for cloud computing customers that include hospitals, first responders, utilities and national security agencies.
The company estimates the generators would operate about five to 15 hours annually for routine testing and maintenance, with additional operation during emergency outages. Amazon said the engines will use Tier 4 emissions controls, the EPA's strictest standard for diesel engines, and emissions data will be reported regularly to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
Even so, some residents and environmental groups question whether hundreds of diesel generators belong in a community they say already faces environmental challenges.
After months of technical review, state regulators say the project meets state and federal air quality requirements.
According to DEQ, air quality experts evaluated emissions using computer models that accounted for emission rates, weather patterns, topography, background air quality and how pollutants disperse in the atmosphere. The agency said both Amazon's and Duke Energy's modeling found emissions would remain below health-based standards beyond the facilities' property lines if the companies comply with permit conditions.
Norton said Duke was not required to submit a separate air permit application for the temporary generators. Because they will operate near the company's Smith Energy Complex, Duke voluntarily included them under the existing power plant's air permit. He said emissions from the plant and temporary generators combined will remain below permit limits designed to protect public health and the environment.
Although the draft permits allow each backup generator to operate up to 500 hours annually, DEQ said those limits represent the maximum allowed under the permit, not expected use. Amazon has told regulators the generators are expected to operate only a fraction of that time.
Norton said Duke was not required to submit a separate air permit application for the temporary generators. Because they will operate near the company's Smith Energy Complex, Duke voluntarily included them under the plant's existing air permit. He said emissions from the power plant and temporary generators combined will remain below permitted limits designed to protect public health and the environment.
Richmond County officials say the project followed the same economic development process used for other major projects.
Management Analyst and Economic Developer Martie Butler said the county complied with state law, held multiple public hearings during the economic development process and supports DEQ's review.
"We respect DEQ and we have the utmost confidence they will act professionally and in the best interest of Richmond County residents and all North Carolinians," Butler said.
Thursday's hearing will allow residents to comment on both draft permits before DEQ issues a final decision.
DEQ will use comments from Thursday's hearing before making a final permitting decision. A hearing officer may recommend issuing, modifying or denying the permits before the Division of Air Quality director makes the final determination.
The public hearing begins at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Old Richmond County Courthouse in Rockingham. Residents who cannot attend may submit written comments through Friday, July 31, by emailing daq.publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with the subject line "Amazon.25A and DukeRichmond.26C."
