Charlotte Pauses Data Center Focus Group After Transparency Outcry

Charlotte city staff suspended a data center focus group after members of the City Council and local residents criticized the initiative for excluding the public and lacking transparency. The group was launched without prior consultation with the council, leaving some members only a few days' notice before the first meeting on Thursday.

Jack VanderToll, a city spokesperson, announced a pause in activity to reassess the current process and community engagement approach. Deputy City Manager Alyson Craig defended the group in a memo, stating that the focus group was not intended to replace broader public engagement.

This controversy follows a 150-day moratorium on new data center projects passed in June. City staff have until November to develop regulatory policy recommendations that comply with state law.