City of Charlotte Data Centers Task Force Meeting - September 17, 2026

The City of Charlotte Data Centers Task Force convened on September 17, 2026, to discuss the potential extension of a moratorium on data center development. The meeting focused on the timeline for the moratorium extension, next steps for the task force, and a formal vote on recommending the moratorium extension to the City Council. Staff recommended a twelve-month extension to allow sufficient time for evaluating ordinance changes, engaging consultants for detailed policy development, and coordinating with regulatory entities such as Duke Energy and the Utilities Commission. The task force discussed the scope of work, including noise ordinance revisions, resource utilization policies, and public health studies. A formal vote resulted in a recommendation for a twelve-month moratorium extension. Additionally, representatives from Digital Realty presented on their data center operations, including infrastructure, environmental practices like closed-loop cooling systems, water usage, noise mitigation, and economic impact, highlighting their commitment to responsible development and community engagement. The presentation also addressed utility rate impacts and job creation associated with data center projects. The task force planned future meetings to further refine recommendations and review consultant scopes, contingent on the moratorium extension outcome.