Data Centers emerge as key election issue as New Hanover County Commissioners review local policies

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — As election season heats up, data centers have emerged as a central topic for voters and local leaders.

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met Thursday morning to review data center development, examining the different types of facilities, their community impacts, and the county’s existing policies.

Led by county staff member Rebekah Roth, the presentation laid the groundwork for a broader conversation about whether the coastal county is a realistic fit for the resource-heavy infrastructure.

Commissioner Dane Scalise raised questions during the meeting regarding the practical viability of siting a data center in the area, pointing to tight geographic constraints and vital resource limitations.

“We’re right by the ocean. We don’t really have a lot of available land. The land that we have is pretty darn expensive,” Scalise said. “We also have concerns with the interbasin negotiations—upstream—whether or not we’re even going to have enough water for our own needs here. I mean, is this even a practical place for a data center to come?”

While no action was taken by the board to pause development, the discussion comes as nearby municipalities—including Shallotte, Leland, and Southport—have enacted temporary moratoriums on data centers.