City Council member: Charlotte needs to answer real concerns about data centers

My responsibility is clear: protecting our families, our health, and the neighborhoods we call home.

Right now, that responsibility is being tested by the rapid expansion of data centers — and the lack of clear rules guiding where and how they are built in our community.

We talk about innovation. We talk about progress. We talk about the future.

But here’s the reality: large-scale industrial facilities are being proposed closer and closer to where people live — often without residents fully understanding the long-term impact.

That should concern all of us.

This is not about opposing technology. Charlotte should absolutely be part of the future of AI and digital infrastructure. But we cannot allow growth to move faster than our ability to protect the people who live here.

Because the impacts are real.

Start with energy.

A single large data center can use as much electricity as tens of thousands of homes. That kind of demand requires major grid upgrades, long-term coordination with Duke Energy, and expanded infrastructure that does not come without cost.

So let’s be honest about the question many residents are already asking: When demand spikes, who pays?

If we don’t put the right policies in place, the answer could very well be the people who had no say in the decision.

Water is another serious concern — and one we cannot afford to overlook.

These facilities often rely on water-intensive cooling systems that run 24 hours a day. At a time when we are asking residents to conserve, approving developments that consume large volumes of water without clear safeguards sends the wrong message.

Then there’s location.

Across the country, cities are beginning to recognize that data centers, while essential, function like industrial uses. Yet here in Charlotte, proposals are increasingly appearing near residential neighborhoods.

Let’s call that what it is: a policy gap.

Because we would not typically place heavy industrial uses next to homes, schools, or parks. And if we are allowing it now, we owe residents a clear explanation — and stronger protections.

For the families who live nearby, this is not abstract.

These facilities operate around the clock. Cooling systems. Backup generators. Continuous activity.

That means noise. That means disruption. That means a direct impact on quality of life.

And we cannot ignore the strain on infrastructure.

Charlotte is growing fast — and our roads, water systems, and electrical grid are already under pressure. The scale of data center development raises a serious concern: Are we overloading systems that were never designed for this level of demand?

We also need to take a hard look at the economic argument.

Yes, these projects bring investment. But once operational, they create relatively few permanent jobs compared to their size and resource use.

At the same time, many of these facilities generate billions in value.

So here’s the fairness question — and it’s one we should not shy away from:

If these facilities generate billions, why are residents the ones expected to absorb the noise, the strain, and potentially higher utility costs?

That is not a balanced equation.

And it’s exactly why this moment calls for leadership.

Right now, Charlotte’s policies are not keeping pace with the scale and speed of this industry. That leaves too much uncertainty for residents, for neighborhoods, and for the long-term sustainability of our infrastructure.

Charlotte should consider a temporary pause on approving new data centers near residential communities until clear, enforceable standards are in place. Because once these facilities are built, the impacts are long-term — and difficult to reverse.

That is not about stopping progress. It is about getting it right.

We need to act — and we need to act now.

That means setting clear rules for where data centers can be located. It means requiring a full evaluation of energy and water impacts before approvals are granted. It means working closely with Duke Energy to ensure long-term grid planning protects ratepayers. And it means ensuring that infrastructure costs are not quietly shifted onto residents.

Most importantly, it means transparency.

Residents deserve to know what is being proposed near their homes, and they deserve a voice in those decisions before they are finalized.

Other cities are already taking a more proactive approach. Charlotte should not wait until the consequences are visible to respond.

Because at the end of the day, this is not just about technology. It’s about whether we are protecting the people who live here. It’s about whether growth is being done with our communities — or around them.

And it’s about whether we are willing to lead with intention — or accept the consequences of inaction.

Charlotte cannot afford to get this wrong.

We should lead. And we should lead now.

Dimple Ajmera is an at-large member of Charlotte City Council.