Democratic Senate Nominee Roy Cooper Adjusts Stance on Data Centers Amid Rising Power Costs

<p>Democratic Senate nominee Roy Cooper, who previously supported the growth of data centers during his time as North Carolina governor, is now advocating for measures to limit their expansion as part of his campaign for the U.S. Senate. He has framed this shift as part of his "make stuff cost less" initiative.</p><p>Cooper stated, "We need to make sure data centers pay for their own power and we need to encourage them to build their own energy sources because right now that’s causing rates to go up for consumers and we can’t have that," in an interview with local media.</p><p>His change in position aligns with other Democrats who are addressing data center issues in relation to affordability, aiming to position themselves as advocates for reducing costs by ensuring companies bear the financial burden of their utility usage.</p><p>Notably, many of North Carolina's tax incentives for data centers were already in place when Cooper took office in 2017. In 2016, the state enacted statute G.S.105-164.13, which expanded tax exemptions for data centers, requiring companies to invest at least $75 million over five years to qualify.</p><p>Research from CBRE, a commercial real estate firm, indicates that these investments have resulted in a significant increase in data center construction, with a 15-fold rise that began during Cooper’s governorship.</p><p>Cooper's administration also provided Apple with additional incentives in 2019 through a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) to support its data center development in Maiden, North Carolina. The grant included an $845 million commitment over 39 years and an additional $112.4 million for rural infrastructure development.</p><p>Cooper previously celebrated this project, stating it was expected to create 3,000 jobs and highlighting North Carolina's favorable business climate and skilled workforce.</p><p>During Cooper’s tenure, other companies like Meta, Corvid Technologies, Microsoft, Segra, and Google have also expanded their data center operations in the state. Reports indicate that from 2015 to 2025, 37 companies received state tax exemptions for their projects.</p><p>However, Cooper's successor, Gov. Josh Stein, has pointed to data centers as contributors to rising utility costs, criticizing Duke Energy's proposed rate hikes. Stein stated, "Duke Energy’s proposed rate hike is simply too high and comes as the company is also retreating on more affordable clean energy. At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, we should be doing everything we can to make life more affordable, not less."</p><p>Cooper has echoed these concerns, emphasizing his efforts to combat rising utility prices. He noted, "As Governor and Attorney General, I put aside party politics to fight utility cost increases for North Carolinians. I vetoed a Senate bill that prioritized higher profits for utility companies over more cost-effective energy solutions. And I battled Duke Energy in court to get their profit margin lowered."</p><p>While Cooper has not called for an outright ban on data centers, he has strongly advocated for them to pay more directly for their energy consumption. He stated, "The companies that build these data centers must pull their own weight, pay for the power they use and completely remove this burden from North Carolina families and small businesses. We must encourage companies that build data centers to also build their own power sources, which will help reduce utility costs for consumers."</p><p>Regarding his evolving stance on data centers, Cooper's campaign emphasized that he believes local communities should determine how to approach data center expansion, including the possibility of local moratoriums.</p><p>Cooper is set to compete in the state’s general election on November 3.</p>