Special City Council Meeting 08-17-26

The Greensboro City Council held a special meeting on August 17, 2026, primarily focused on discussing a proposed moratorium and ordinance related to data center development in the city. Council member Denise Roth recused herself from votes due to a conflict of interest involving the Gateway Research Park and the Dream Center project. The meeting featured extensive public commentary expressing concerns about the environmental, economic, and social impacts of hyperscale data centers, including water and energy usage, noise pollution, surveillance, and limited local job creation. Many speakers advocated for extending the proposed 120-day moratorium to 32 months to allow for thorough study, public engagement, and development of robust regulations. The council acknowledged the need for further deliberation and agreed to reconvene the public hearing the following day to continue the discussion. No final votes on procurement or contract awards were recorded during this session.