Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

01. Why a data center in Stokes County, NC?

Stokes County, NC - specifically the Walnut Cove area - offers the right mix of land, power, and fiber that makes it ideal for data center investment:

Land: Over 1,800 acres of relatively flat property with natural tree buffers for screening.
Power: Directly adjacent to Duke Energy’s largest energy generation hub Belews Creek which includes a 2,220-megawatt dual-fuel (coal and natural gas) steam station, cooling and water-management infrastructure connected to Belews Lake, and facilities currently being evaluated for potential deployment of advanced small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) as part of Duke Energy’s clean energy transition plan.
Connectivity: Major fiber routes already serve the area, enabling low-latency, high-speed connections.

Community Fit: With Duke Energy’s major generation site already established in the area, co-locating the data center campus represents an efficient and strategic use of pairing data center next to existing industrial land. Data centers are low-impact neighbors - producing minimal traffic, no burden on local schools, and very limited daily water demand - while contributing to the local tax base and supporting the county’s broader economic development goals.

02. Why pivot from solar to a data center?

While the site was initially considered for solar development, transitioning to a data center use presents a more strategic and sustainable long-term opportunity for Stokes County. The property’s proximity to Duke Energy’s Belews Creek generation hub provides immediate access to robust electrical infrastructure - an essential asset for reliable data center operations - without requiring extensive new transmission development.

Additionally, the data center offers significantly higher economic impact compared to a solar facility, including greater tax revenue, investment in infrastructure, and potential for future technology-related jobs. Unlike solar fields, which are largely passive once constructed, a data center anchors long-term capital investment and supports broader digital infrastructure growth in the region.

Finally, co-locating near existing energy infrastructure aligns with Duke Energy’s and the county’s broader goals of efficient land use and grid modernization. This pivot leverages the same energy advantages that made the site attractive for solar, while delivering greater community and economic benefits over time.

03. Will this project raise electricity rates for Stokes County residents?

Duke Energy has a 10-year Forecast for Electricity Rate Increases of 2.1%, regardless of this project happening.

All power-related costs – including new substations, transmission lines, and interconnection – will be 100% paid for by the project. Residents and businesses will not share in these costs.

Duke Energy is studying the optimal way to serve the project without impacting reliability and service for local users.
The improvements Duke Energy requests will be 100% paid for by the project.

04. How much power will the data center use?

At full buildout, Project Delta will require several hundred megawatts. This is a large-scale demand, and the costs are privately funded.

Project Delta will fund a new dedicated substation to handle its higher load, ensuring others in the area are not impacted.

Project Delta will have the option to fund its own on-site generation as well to support the data center project.

05. What about water and sewer demand?

Great question! While some data centers use lots of water, this data center campus will take advantage of technological innovations + responsible development practices and use a closed-loop cooling system, meaning water is filled once and then recycled within the system:

Daily water use: 50,000–100,000 gallons per day (comparable to a small office building, less than residential - primarily restrooms, fire suppression loops, and any landscape irrigation requirements).
Contrast: Older-generation data centers consumed millions of gallons daily, but modern design significantly reduces demand.
The developer will extend water and sewer infrastructure at their expense, creating new utility capacity that nearby properties can also access.

06. How much traffic will it create?

Very little compared to other potential land uses:

An 800,000 SF data center generates about 60–70 PM peak trips per hour.
By contrast:
- A shopping center (100,000 SF) would create ~540 peak trips per hour.
- A high school (3,000 students) would create ~420 peak trips per hour.
- A 300-unit apartment building would create ~270 peak trips per hour.
Takeaway: Data centers are among the lowest traffic generators of any major land use. (Source: ITE’s 11th Edition, 2021)

07. What will it look like?

The campus will feature high-quality, Class A buildings with substantial buffers:

Buildings are typically 1-2 stories, with floorplates of 100,000 SF or more.
Construction is hurricane-rated, among the most robust buildings in the world.
Setbacks and landscaping ensure facilities are screened from US 311, Oldtown Road, Fulp Road, and Tuttle Road.
Security measures include perimeter fencing, guardhouses, biometric access, and controlled entry.
The goal is to limit visibility from public roads while creating a secure, modern campus.

08. What are the economic benefits?

Jobs: 250–500 permanent employees, depending on buildout, with average salaries of ~$100,000.
Contractors/Suppliers: For every 1 on-site job, ~6 contracting jobs are generated (electricians, plumbers, and other contractors).
Tax Base: Data centers represent one of the highest-value property tax uses available, generating a potential $20 million (real estate and personal property) in annual Stokes County, NC revenue at full buildout, with minimal additional service costs (schools, police, traffic).
Ripple Effects: Employees and contractors spend money locally, strengthening the Stokes County, NC residential, retail and service economy.
Infrastructure Upgrades: Privately funded power and water/sewer improvements enhance capacity for the entire Walnut Cove corridor.

09. When will construction begin and how long will it take?

Timeline: Groundbreaking is expected within ~18 months of rezoning approval.
Buildout: Each phase takes 12–18 months, with total completion in 3–5 years.
Why Speed Matters: Duke Energy’s large-load study results must be acted on quickly. Zoning approval enables the project to move in sync with Duke Energy’s timeline.

10. What about trees, wildlife, and green space?

Buffers: Tree buffers around the site, especially near residential areas, will be preserved.
Interior: Trees inside the development footprint must be cleared for safety and storm resilience. Buildings must be set back from potential tree hazards.
Wildlife: Developers will coordinate with environmental groups. Migratory patterns are being considered, with tree clearing scheduled outside sensitive seasons.
Enhancements: Developer is considering small parklets and birdwatching or nature-viewing opportunities to strengthen community connection.

11. Will this affect water/sewer or power availability for neighbors?

No. All improvements are 100% funded by the project.
New infrastructure will expand capacity in the corridor, benefiting other properties.
Neither residents nor businesses will see reduced service or higher utility costs.

12. What about noise?

Data centers are quiet compared to many other uses:

Typical equipment noise levels are in the range of normal indoor conversation or an office HVAC system (~50–60 dB).
By comparison, lawnmowers are ~90 dB, tractor trailers ~100 dB, and construction equipment 110+ dB.
In short: A data center is much quieter than the everyday neighborhood sounds like lawn care or existing traffic.

13. How does this project benefit Stokes County, NC long-term?

Capitalizes on existing power generation infrastructure: Duke Energy's Belews Creek is already built, this allows Stokes County to further benefit from the facility.
Future-Proofing: Diversifies the economic base beyond residential development.
Sustainability: Ties Stokes County into the digital economy with infrastructure that supports growth for decades.
Community Value: Provides long-term revenues that reduce reliance on raising taxes on residents.
Jobs: Brings high paying jobs that are digitally based and highly sought after.

14. What’s the conservative fiscal impact, given depreciation?

At full build-out, and taking into consideration Duke Energy's power availability, it is estimated that Project Delta could provide $20M+ /year in annual taxes for Stokes County, NC.

Incentives are not part of this rezoning request; however, we understand that incentives may be requested at a later date and would be subject to approval by the County Commissioners, and this number includes the typical incentives.

This represents a meaningful positive impact to Stokes County's annual budget, strengthening funding for local infrastructure and service.

15. Who pays for grid upgrades, and how is reliability protected?

All project-attributable upgrades are 100% developer-funded via a Duke Energy Facilities/Interconnection Agreement.

Duke is committed to reliability and all power commitments are governed by North Carolina Utilities Commission.

16. How will you track and share noise, water, and energy impacts?

Noise:

The proposed data center will adhere to all local noise ordinances; in addition, we will contribute $20,000 to Stokes County to provide a noise monitoring system to be placed along the property edge.

Water:

The proposed data center will be a closed-loop cooling system. We estimate the site will consume no more than 50,000 - 100,000 gallons per day for on-site staff, landscaping, and other non-cooling uses.

Compared to open-loop systems, which require millions of gallons per day, this closed-loop system is significantly more efficient. For reference a 100,000 sq ft office/site or 200 homes use approximately 50,000 gallons a day

Energy:

The proposed Data Center will rely on Duke Energy power, which is regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission and is currently +40% non-carbon generated, making this energy among the cleanest power in the entire United States.

17. How are battery systems and generators managed for safety?

Battery systems and generators are managed as required by all applicable local, state and federal standards.

It is not uncommon for any development teams to partner with local municipalities to familiarize emergency response teams with a site prior to the issuance of the first Certificate of Occupancy (CO).

18. What happens if technology changes or the operator exits?

The conditions of the zoning live with the land regardless of the operator. We are committed to the development of a high-quality campus with state-of-the art buildings.

Buildings can be retrofitted in the unlikely event the data center use becomes obsolete.

These will be among the highest quality buildings in the world in terms of strength and longevity.

19. Will core cooling systems stay as proposed?

The conditions of the zoning, including a closed-loop system, live with the land regardless of the operator and is enforceable by Stokes County, NC.

20. Have more questions?

We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us to learn more about this exciting opportunity for Stokes County, NC, and the responsible development practices helping bring Project Delta to life.