177,000-Square-Foot Data Center Proposed In Selma
SELMA, N.C. – Less than three weeks after the Selma Town Council adopted its first specific regulations governing data centers, a 177,000-square-foot data center proposal is headed to the town’s Planning Board.
The board is scheduled Monday, Oct. 26, to consider Project Volt, a proposed one-story facility on Noble Street near Eason Lane.
Advanced Manufacturing Inc. is seeking a conditional rezoning and special use permit for the project.
The property is currently zoned I-2 Heavy Industrial and is located in Selma’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. The overall parcel contains approximately 101 acres, while the application has identified approximately 53 acres for the proposed facility.
Plans call for a single-story, approximately 177,000-square-foot building to accommodate what the application describes as a small data center.
The applicant says it would pay for electrical infrastructure needed to serve the project as well as a reclaimed-water system to provide cooling water.
The proposal comes shortly after the Town Council unanimously adopted new data center regulations Oct. 6 following months of discussion over electrical demand, water use, noise and other potential impacts.
New Rules Will Apply
Under the new ordinance, groundwater cannot be used to cool a data center. Facilities must instead use a closed-loop geothermal system or reclaimed water.
Data center applicants must also complete an electrical load study and demonstrate that sufficient capacity exists to serve the facility without adversely affecting other electric customers.
Other requirements address noise, screening, landscaping and eventual decommissioning of a facility.
Town planning staff said several of those requirements will be addressed later in the development process if the project advances.
The applicant has agreed to annexation of the property.
Planning Board Recommendation
The Planning Board will consider both the conditional rezoning request to Planned Unit Development-Industrial (PUD-I) and the special use permit for Project Volt.
Any action taken by the Planning Board will be a recommendation only. The Selma Town Council will have final authority to approve or deny both requests.
The proposal will be the first specific data center project to go through Selma’s review process since the town adopted its new data center regulations earlier this month.
The Selma Planning Board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, in the Jernigan Building.
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No to data centers!
I worked for a company building data centers, for a few years. Just a few years ago, people were not aware of this country’s race to build data centers. Back then, the president of the company I worked for, told us that, “The next super power of the world, will be the one that has the most data centers, and we are in a race with China, for 1st place”. No matter how much we protest these data centers, they are coming. Have politicians ever listen to the citizens, and what we wanted? No.
I am a researcher, just because you are told you need something doesn’t necessarily mean you need it. AI & the clouds will change this world as we know. People are concerned about a person when computers will control this world. I thought about an article i read concerning the AI that told the programmers 2 weeks ago, they don’t take orders or commands from humans. If I had to choose the less of the 2 evils a stadium or Data center, im taking the stadium. When i worked in JMH OR, i was so disappointed that hospital was in the stone ages, the County as a whole to be exact. Nevertheless computers are here to stay, and the technology in Japan and China runs circles around the USA, i know this from seeing and not hearsay.
This is disgusting! Every politician involved is a coward and a sellout.
No to data centers amen!!!!!!!!!!
Yes to data centers!
NO, NO TO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! I HOPE THE PEOPLE OF SELMA SHOW UP FOR THIS MEETING AND TELL THEM A BIG H@LL NO TO THIS. 👎👎👎👎
Data centers are an abuse of our resources. Just say no!
Not sure what this means if they can provide their own power and use a closed circuit water cooling system? I’m sure the CNN degreed folks can answer this question.
From what I understand that’s a profitable business and as such shouldn’t need the taxpayer subsidies. Let it stand on its own merits. I do anticipate they’ll be using those 19 generators for more than backup power which could actually generate more than they need and provide a power source to the grid. A possible win win if politicians stay out and a professional negotiates. Data centers are a requirement of automation. Regulation is a necessity and inevitable, make the best of it.
Unnecessary, unwanted , and waste of resources. Say no.
Why are so many people against data centers?
I’d much rather see useful data centers in Johnston County rather than the absolutely useless monstrosity of a “stadium” that’s going to cost taxpayers over $20 million! (Money pit!) At least the data center owners will pay for all the necessary expenses for these projects. The multimillionaire owners of the “tobs” are paying practically nothing. Make it make sense, for real, because the math ain’t mathing!
100% AGREED with That’s What She Said!! That whole stadium idea is a MONSTROSITY OF TAXPAYER MONEY BEING TRASHED!!!
Absolutely! Burns me up and I’d bet money the rest of the people in the county feel the same way!
I agree with you on that statement. At, least they’re reaching into their own pockets to cover at least 75 or 80 percent of the work plus or minus 5 percent. And, at least the Selma Town Council are taking their time to see how it’s gonna impact the community whereas the Smithfield Town Council just wanted to spend money without thinking (using what brain cells they have) depending on who voted for or against this stadium.
Yes to data centers I hope they build ten more!!!!
Keep sucking the toes of the tech industry. They have never lied to us.
Well planned and executed data centers are critical. Room for adjustments on both sides would help. Loop cooling and no added cost for power expense to locals a must. Hopefully noise restrictions will prevent disruption at all hours of day or night.
They are not I hear the sound of data centers every day it used to be peace and quite now I have to hear a low hum. Screw that.
You are naive to trust tech and government officials.
Critical for what? 5 years ago we didn’t need so if these “data” centers. Why now? What’s so critical?
No I already have to hear a constant hum from data centers… I promise if I have to hear it closer it won’t be good.
I understand the concern behind these structures, but letting the chins win this race is not an option.
The data center bubble is goona burst just like the dot com era 💁🏽♂️💁🏽♂️
NO DATA CENTERS!!!!
No one tell you about the Humming noise you can hear for miles. Or the strain it puts on our electrical grid. These leaders are getting big money in payoffs.
If they are closed loop, and properly pay for/provide electric, and noise is unlikely an issue as this area already has two major highways, airport and train traffic to drown it out. I see no issues with small-medium data centers like this. The mega centers are an issue, and those are the ones causing issues, not ones like this. Too many people are all or nothing in their opinions, no level of discernment.
JoCo resident here- just an FYI- so-called closed-loop cooling systems are not a panacea. There are many, many issues surrounding data centers, I’ve been working with communities across the state on these things for over a year. One huge problem is the lack of transparency that these companies demand from local officials, requiring non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements. Another is that developers get them in, navigate the zoning etc. hoops- then pass them off to another company. Some of them haven’t been in existence for even a year. And the big tech companies in there arrogance are polluting communities without applying for or receiving any permits on air emissions for example. As for “energy source” the new data center hotness is small modular nuclear reactors- and regulations have been relaxed over the past couple years. This proposal looks like a hyperscale facility for AI but I need to read the documents. What happens is that people who have legitimate concerns are being gaslighted and made fun of.
The concrete bridge on Steel Bridge road in Clayton is dated in 1964. That bridge has been around since LYNDON B. JOHNSON. There’s probably going to be a new neighborhood build near there, and all of the dump trucks/heavy equipment are gonna have to drive on it. How about we focus on rebuilding critical infrastructure before placating to tech billionaires?
What is this company willing to give to the residents to be allowed to build? More importantly, exactly how many jobs will be created AFTER the facility is built?
Ummm, zero and none are your answers.
That’s a big no.
Don’t you know they need those data centers to store all the data from the flock cameras? Bad news folks, they are going to come whether or not you like it. The powers that be have been mandated that they be built. If 90% of the population voted to not have them in their town, they would still build them. THERES an interesting book written a long time ago and I challenge anyone to read it and not say we are living in that time. George Orwell’s 1984.
As a resident of Eason Ln, our houses predate any industrial building on Noble St by two decades. Eason Ln is a private drive owned by the residents and is not, nor has it ever been owned or maintained by the city, county or state.
As I just watched the planning boards video from last night, my heart really hurts for the people of Eason Làne. It’s just wrong to do this to people that have owned that land for many decades!
The application is incomplete, therefore, it will continue to be discussed in a month. My prayers are with all of you on Eason Làne. Seems to me that since no other community in Johnston County wants a Data Center, our Mayor and his yes people need to be thrown out and replaced with people who have more intelligence!
Keeping all of you on Eason Làne and our community in my prayers. 🙏🙏🙏
This is because I watch all those cat videos isn’t it?
No Data Center in JoCo!
Google – “Where is Data Center Valley located(70% world internet traffic)?“– Then Google: “Does Data centers help the Loudoun County Schools stay highly ranked nationwide” After living there for 5yrs and seeing it first hand, Data centers do play a major role in funding and supporting the high standing of Loudoun County Public Schools. Teachers are paid well and keeps them motivated to stay!!