Wake County data center developer shares vision, responds to backlash
ONE SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, WRAL
NEWS COVERAGE. YOU CAN GO.
>> THE DEVELOPER BEHIND A DATA
CENTER PROPOSED IN THIS PART OF
WAKE COUNTY IS SPEAKING OUT.
THANKS FOR STAYING WITH US.
I'M GRACE HOLLAND AND I'M LENA
TILLETT. THIS FACILITY WOULD
BE BUILT ON THIS. NEARLY 200
ACRE SITE ON SHARON HARRIS ROAD
NEAR APEX WRAL'S. KIRSTEN CLARK
IS JOINING US LIVE AT APEX TOWN
HALL. KIRSTEN, THE DEVELOPER IS
EXPECTED TO GO BEFORE TOWN
OFFICIALS TONIGHT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, LENA. THAT'S
EXPECTED TO HAPPEN TONIGHT AT A
BOARD MEETING HERE. BUT I SAT
DOWN WITH MICHAEL THE TELLY.
HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF
DEVELOPMENT COMPANY. THE
TELLY HOLDINGS. HE SHARED HIS
VISION FOR THIS DATA CENTER
WITH US. AND I ASKED HIM HOW
HE INTENDS TO ADDRESS THE MANY
CONCERNS WE'VE HEARD FROM
PEOPLE LIVING NEAR THAT
PROPOSED SITE. NOW, TAKE A LOOK
AT THIS VIDEO HERE SHOWING THAT
190 ACRE SITE ON SHARON HARRIS
ROAD IN NEW HILL. IT'S NOT FAR
FROM DUKE ENERGY'S HARRIS
ENERGY PLAN AND THE WESTERN
WAKE REGIONAL WATER TREATMENT
FACILITY ON THE TELLY SHOWED ME
A LAYOUT OF THE CURRENT PLAN,
WHICH INCLUDES 4.70, FOOT DATA
STORAGE BUILDINGS THAT TOTAL
800,000 SQUARE FEET. YOU CAN
JUST THAT GIVES YOU THE MERE
SIZE THERE. HE SAYS HIS TEAM
REQUESTED 300 MEGAWATTS OF
ELECTRICITY FROM DUKE ENERGY,
THOUGH DUKE HENRY STILL HAS TO
DETERMINE IF AND HOW IT CAN
SUPPLY THAT POWER. NOW, THE
TELLY SAYS AS THE DEVELOPER,
HIS COMPANY WILL PAY FOR THE
COSTS TO RUN THE ENERGY TO THE
SITE AND ANY NECESSARY
INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.
NOT CONSUMERS. AS FOR WATER
USE, HE SAYS THE DATA CENTER IS
EXPECTED TO USE A MILLION
GALLONS A DAY FOR COOLING AND
IT WILL BE RECLAIMED WATER FROM
THAT NEARBY WATER TREATMENT
FACILITY.
WOULD YOU WANT TO LIVE NEAR
THIS DATA CENTER? AS IT IS
CURRENTLY PROPOSED AND WHY OR
WHY NOT?
>> YOU KNOW, A COMMUNITY THAT'S
A MILE AWAY. THERE'S A TON OF
EXISTING VEGETATION BETWEEN OUR
PROPERTY AND US ONE AND ALL
OF THE DESIGN CRITERIA THAT
WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THE
ATTENUATE JEAN MEASURES THAT
WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE FROM
THE SOUNDS. I WOULDN'T HAVE
ANY ISSUE WITH THIS.
>> NOW YOU HEARD IT. ALLIE
MENTIONED THE SOUND THERE.
I ASKED HIM ABOUT NOISE, LIGHT
AND AIR POLLUTION CONCERNS AS
WELL. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED TO US.
THE TALLY SAYS HIS TEAM IS
WORKING WITH THE SOUND
CONSULTANT TO ENSURE ANY SOUND
COMING FROM THAT PROPERTY IS AT
A LEVEL THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO
THE TOWN OF APEX. HE ALSO SAYS
THE SITE WILL MEET AND EXCEED
ANY LIGHT REQUIREMENTS FROM
THE TOWN. AND THE TELLY TOLD ME
ANY AIR POLLUTION THAT WOULD
COME FROM BACKUP GENERATORS
WHICH WILL BE PERMITTED THROUGH
THE EPA. WE'LL BE AT A LEVEL
THAT ARE SAFE EMISSIONS WISE
NOW THAT ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY
BOARD MEETING HAPPENING HERE
TONIGHT THAT STARTS AT 6.30.
I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL NEIGHBORS
WHO SAID THEY WILL BE THERE
TO HEAR WHAT THE TELLY HAS TO
SAY. SO A LOT I'M SURE WILL
COME OUT OF THAT MEETING