City of Sanford Approves Regulations on Future Data Centers

After a five-hour meeting, the Sanford City Council voted to approve regulations for the possibility of future data centers. Highlights of the ordinance change are below.

• Daily fine for noise violations = $100.00 per day (the fine was previously $10,000)
• City could pursue an injunction against a data center if they perpetually violate the noise ordinance
• Centers shall be located no less than 500 linear feet from any existing residential or multi-family structure(s)
• Centers shall not exceed 75 feet in height
• Centers shall have a pre-construction sound study performed to determine baseline ambient noise levels
• Centers shall be constructed to incorporate sound mitigation methods to prevent the sound levels emitted from the center from exceeding permitted decibel levels during normal operations
• Centers SHALL NOT utilize groundwater, well water, or surface water (lakes, rivers, ponds) as a water source, but instead must utilize and connect directly to municipal water sources

During the public hearing, Eric Evanson spoke on the His position and said “I called a woman in prince William County, Virginia about their data center situation and the woman said the East Coast power grid that North Carolina is a part of has no spare electricity left.”

Sidebar: Lee County Commissioners approved the same regulations on April 20.