To the Editor:
I would like to make several points concerning the recent wave of data center proposals in Richmond County in an hope to help residents understand the difference between smart economic growth and poor community planning.
First, I do not buy into the Chinese propaganda flooding social media and sending well intentioned yet misinformed citizen into a panic against all data centers. Data Centers are a very necessary part of the world ahead of us. But discretion is the better part of valor.
The Amazon project south of Hamlet represents the right way to build. Strategically placed next to the Duke Energy Complex, it sits in an active industrial hub. Its cooling fans and emergency generators will blend seamlessly into an existing utility zone, limiting neighborhood disruptions as best possible. Crucially, our robust water system can handle its cooling demands, and Amazon is footing the bill for all necessary infrastructure upgrades. This $10 billion development will massively boost our tax base without placing a burden on local residential services. Good job Richmond County. Thank you Duke Power for making this happen.
Unfortunately, the other two proposed data center sites do not follow this standard.
The recent private sale of over 400 acres on County Home Road is zoned industrial, but its proximity to long-term homesteads and the future of “The 9th Grade Academy” concerns me.
Worse still is the Terra Nexus proposal on Old Cheraw Highway. The developer is asking the Rockingham City Council to rezone 165 acres of high-density residential land to conditional light industrial. This site is entirely wrapped by residential neighborhoods. Forcing 24/7 industrial noise and massive arrays of backup generators right next to private backyards will permanently damage property values and peace of mind.
Richmond County absolutely needs an expanded tax base to fund our schools, roads, and emergency services. But we do not have to sacrifice our neighborhoods to get it. Our citizens and local leaders should enthusiastically welcome the Amazon project, but they must draw a firm line at the apparent “data centers at all cost” mentality.
Sincerely,
Chris Maples
