Home Care In Walnut Cove, NC

County leaders approved rezoning for a large data center in Walnut Cove despite strong public opposition. One day later, residents remain concerned.

STOKES COUNTY, N.C. — Stokes County commissioners voted late Monday to move forward with a large-scale data center project near Walnut Cove, a decision that drew strong opposition from hundreds of residents who packed the meeting chambers and overflow area.

The vote clears the way for what is being called Project Delta, a proposed data center development on roughly 1,800 acres off Highway 311 near the Dan River. The land is owned by real estate developer David Couch.

Hundreds of people attended the meeting, with some speaking directly to commissioners during public comment while others gathered outside, chanting their disapproval. Many residents said they felt their concerns about environmental impact, noise, and community character were not fully considered.

“I think a lot of the community felt we had raised our voices and our concern, and it kind of felt like they had already made up their minds before we got there,” said Elijah Evans, a life-long Walnut Cove resident who opposes the project.

Data centers are specialized facilities that power the internet by storing and processing data for services such as cloud computing, online banking, streaming, and artificial intelligence. County leaders say the project is necessary for economic growth, even as critics question its long-term effects. They approved rezoning of the land in a 3-2 vote.

“On a scale of one to ten, a zero,” said Evans when asked about his faith in county commissioners’ decision-making. “No matter what you think about the economic impact it could have on the community, good or bad, we could all be wrong and this turns out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to the county. But the fact of the matter is they were elected to be the voice of the people, for the people, and the resounding cry last night from the people was, ‘We don’t want this.’”

Bryce Dillon, who lives near the proposed site, said he remains skeptical of assurances made by developers.

“They say there’s not going to be loud generators, they say they’re not going to destroy the environment that much,” Dillon said. “I hope they stick to their word, but knowing how businessmen operate, I don’t have high hopes.”

In a statement, Drew Nations, CEO of Engineered Land Solutions, thanked commissioners for approving the project and said the company intends to work closely with the county and local residents.

“This is the beginning of the process, and we look forward to following through on our promises to develop responsibly and be a good neighbor,” Nations said in a statement. He also urged opponents to give the development team a chance to earn their trust, adding that the goal is to make Project Delta “an example of how communities and data center developments can work together.”

According to the project’s website, Walnut Cove was selected because of its access to land, power and fiber infrastructure. Construction could begin within the next 18 months, with developers estimating the project could eventually create between 250 and 500 permanent jobs.

STOKES COUNTY, N.C. — A proposed rezoning request that would bring a massive artificial intelligence data center to Stokes County was approved Monday night by the Stokes County Board of Commissioners.

What You Need To Know

The proposal, which was approved 3-2, would allow an 1,800-acre AI data center to be built on unoccupied land in Walnut Cove near the Dan River.

Supporters say the project would generate millions in tax revenue and create hundreds of high-paying jobs.

Opponents argue it could threaten historic land, cultural resources and the environment.

Economic promises

The project, Project Delta, is being developed by Drew Nations of Engineered Land Solutions.

Nations says while the site totals about 1,800 acres, only 998 acres would be developed with the remaining land designated as floodplain.

According to Nations, the data center could generate an estimated $20 million a year in tax revenue for local governments and create up to 500 jobs with average salaries around $100,000.

Proponents say the economic impact could be transformative for Stokes County, bringing new employment opportunities and long-term revenue.

Community pushback

Despite those promises, the proposal sparked significant backlash from residents in the community.

Many say they need more time to understand the potential impacts before such a large project moves forward.

Tay Van Buren, a longtime Stokes County resident, says the area along the Dan River holds deep personal and community significance.

“Nothing else matters but being present and watching kids come together and play in this water,” Van Buren said. “There are families that have been here for generations.”

Van Buren says the river and surrounding land are especially meaningful to her family, including her son, who lives with autism.

“Coming to this place has really helped build his ability to understand boundaries,” Van Buren said.

The Stokes County Historical Society and Clean Water for North Carolina, a nonprofit organization opposing the project, say parts of the land are historically and culturally significant to indigenous people.

They argue development could permanently destroy artifacts and erase history.

“Once you disrupt that soil, it’s gone,” Van Buren said.

Environmental concerns

The proposed site’s location along the Dan River has also raised environmental concerns.

Dr. Corey Johnson, a professor of geography at UNC-Greensboro who studies the environmental impacts of data centers, says large-scale facilities can pose several risks.

“These data centers require an enormous amount of energy to run the chips and processors,” Johnson said.

The data center plans to get water from the Dan River to run its operations.

“This entire community depends on this river in various ways,” Van Buren said. “It’s a finite resource, and it’s our responsibility to protect and conserve these spaces.”

Johnson says potential impacts can include thermal pollution, chemical runoff, air pollution and groundwater contamination if not carefully managed.

Residents opposing the rezoning are urging commissioners to deny the request or delay a decision to allow more time for study.

We also reached out to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and they said that Project Delta has not applied for and obtained proper permits required by law to move forward with the project.

N.C. DEQ said that before developers can move forward with a project, they generally need to be approved for the permit to ensure that the project remains within legal levels necessary for the protection of the community's health and the environment.

The Stokes County Planning Board voted not to recommend the rezoning request on Dec. 4. The final decision rested with county commissioners.

Industry data shows there are already about 90 data centers operating across North Carolina.

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