Data Center Lawsuit in Chatham County – Article from the Sanford Herald
Sanford developer sues Chatham County over data center moratorium
- By Caleb M. Soptelean csoptelean@sanfordherald.com
- 6 hrs ago
A Sanford developer sued Chatham County on April 23 over its one-year moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining.
ECO Tip West LLC filed the suit in Chatham County Superior Court.
The sole principal of the business is Kirk J. Bradley, with an address at 603 Carthage St., according to Bizapedia.com.
ECO Tip West filed for a declaratory judgment and compensatory damages, including attorney’s fees, and requested exemption from the moratorium, which was approved by the Chatham County commissioners on Feb. 11.
In the suit, ECO Tip West says it invested over $11 million and four years in pursuing development at the site, located at 338 Pea Ridge Road, east of Moncure.
County officials have been aware of the company’s plans since October 2025, according to the suit, which notes that heavy industrial zoning has existed on the site since 1969, including an update on June 18, 2018.
The company says it received a zoning permit from the county on Oct. 29, 2025, and consequently has a “by-right use” at the Moncure Megasite, citing an Oct. 30 letter from Planning Director Jason Sullivan.
A 750-megawatt data center is planned with cryptocurrency mining operations.
Utilities are “adequate and available,” according to the suit, which notes that Duke Energy and TriRiver Water have given assurances of service.
The suit requests “expedited judicial review.”
The project is part of Triangle Innovation Point, a 2,150-acre site for life science, advanced manufacturing and an industrial park, according to researchtriangle.org.
A concept plans shows 47 sites, including 19 in phase one, located north and south of Old U.S. 1.
During a public hearing on Feb. 11, Bradley told the county commissioners that Triangle Innovation Point West would be “exempt from any proposed moratorium and changes to the [zoning ordinance],” according to the suit.
The suit was filed by a Raleigh law firm, Robin L. Tatum, J. Mitchell Armbruster Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell and Jernigan.
Other county officials were mentioned in the 275-page suit, including County Manager Bryan Thompson, attorneys Bob Hagemann and Emily Meeker, and planners Angie Plummer and Hunter Glenn.
