City of Charlotte Data Centers Task Force Meeting - September 3, 2026

The City of Charlotte Data Centers Task Force convened on September 3, 2026, to discuss policy recommendations and regulatory considerations related to data center development within the city. The meeting focused extensively on procurement-relevant topics such as zoning regulations, environmental and operational standards for data centers, and the timing and transparency of information sharing with city council and relevant agencies like Charlotte Water and Duke Energy. Task force members debated requirements for water usage reporting, noise and air quality monitoring, backup generator use, and the incorporation of closed-loop cooling and reclaimed water systems. They also discussed the need for tiered definitions of data centers based on size and resource consumption, setbacks from residential areas, and the potential for stricter zoning conditions. The group worked through a series of structured questions to develop policy, Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), and legislative recommendations, with plans to prioritize these in future meetings. No specific contract awards or vendor selections were mentioned, but the discussions are likely to influence future procurement and regulatory frameworks for data center projects in Charlotte.