Yesterday morning, as a professor in public health and health policy, I received the Public Health Newswire, which highlighted an interview between the American Public Health Association and the NAACP warning of the environmental harms of AI data centers. By the evening, I had received text messages from my neighbors about the latest news: the introduction of Rezoning Petition 2025 120, which would allow a data center on 58 acres off Hood Road. Our neighborhood. Many of us texted responses and exclaimed, “Not in my backyard!”
We all recognize that Charlotte is growing quickly, and with that growth, development proposals deserve public critique. Although supporters of data centers frame it as a small addition to our tech economy, those of us who live nearby are concerned about Charlotte’s long-term sustainability. The proposal raises serious questions about environmental impact and long-term public health, as well as whether our zoning rules are equipped to address the potential expansion of data centers throughout the city and county.
Across the country, data centers are becoming some of the most resource intensive buildings. The NAACP warned that AI driven data centers are projected to consume up to 12% of all U.S. electricity by 2030, with major tech companies already reporting steep increases in greenhouse gas emissions as these facilities expand. These facilities draw enough power to rival that of small cities, and there have been reports that electricity bills could double by 2039 if data centers continue to expand. Currently, rezoning petitions in Charlotte have not included clear, transparent, and binding sustainability commitments…