NC WARN criticizes Josh Stein for aiding the recruitment of power-guzzling A.I. data centers to the state
Though he has retreated on publicly praising A.I. data centers as backlash has accelerated across NC and the nation, Governor Josh Stein is among those who have celebrated the influx of the polluting developments into the state.
Stein was “damn excited” about Amazon’s plans to construct a data center in Richmond County in 2025.
That line is featured in a new 30-second video ad by NC WARN. The watchdog says it’s time for the governor to make amends and enact a 2-year freeze on the development of data centers. These massive projects are now notorious for air, water and noise pollution and repeatedly driving up power bills, among a host of other noxious impacts.
NC WARN started calling on the Governor in June for a data center moratorium and to halt Duke Energy’s recruitment of those energy-guzzling facilities to the state. The power giant has used the hype around data centers to plan a nation-leading expansion of fossil fuels.
Duke Energy gained deceptive headlines and gushing praise last month after claiming falsely that its recent deal with tech oligarchs would protect other customers from the costs of providing power to data centers.
NC WARN filed a demand on October 1 for all records from the Governor’s Office and Commerce Department pertaining to their assistance to Duke Energy in the recruiting activities. And last month, NC WARN launched a statewide petition drive calling on Stein to use his authority and political power to implement a 2-year moratorium.
The Governor helped fuel the data center frenzy. Now, it’s on him to freeze current data center development and protect North Carolinians from further toxic projects borne from deceptive and backroom scheming.
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Now in its 38th year, NC WARN is building people power in the climate and energy justice movement to persuade or require Charlotte-based Duke Energy – one of the world’s largest climate polluters – to make a quick transition to renewable, affordable power generation and energy efficiency in order to avert climate tipping points and ongoing rate hikes.