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Climate Change Advisory Committee Meeting

Chatham County · Climate Change Advisory Committee
Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 7:00 pm · Virtual Meeting, Virtual Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312

Advisory board meeting Environment and sustainabilityData centers and large loadsComprehensive planGrants and outside fundingTax rate and revaluation

Agenda document Minutes Meeting page Watch Meeting recap

What's on this agenda

Chatham County's Climate Change Advisory Committee met by video on 23 April. Two members reported back on a data center briefing, and the committee discussed what research or advice it should give the planning department as the county writes its rules.

New business was an outline for widening community engagement in the county's climate action plan. The committee also noted the planning board's 12 May special meeting on data centers, to be held at the emergency operations center and streamed.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

Seven members made a quorum, and the meeting went on data centers.

Two members reported back from the planning board, where staff had presented on energy use, water use, environmental effects and the regulatory problem. The planning board wants this committee's input on the principles behind its recommendation to the commissioners, and members agreed the research gaps are theirs to fill. One assignment went out on power sourcing, including air emissions and emergency generators, and another on tax treatment, including how the equipment is assessed and what the state legislature has done, both due before the planning board's 12 May meeting.

The committee looked at Lee County as the nearby case. Public pressure there did not produce a moratorium; the commissioners passed rules instead. A data center proposed near a Lee County well has drawn particular objection, with some residents saying they would leave.

A member questioned whether the development ordinance treats data centers adequately at all, given their water and energy use, and raised the risk of displacing businesses that would employ more people for less environmental cost. Another said the presentation had leaned toward the smaller facilities and understated what a hyperscale one means. Chatham's position between Virginia and Georgia is what makes it a target.

The committee decided against a table at the Haw River Assembly's climate solutions fair, on the view that it is premature with no climate action plan finished.

Speaking at this meeting

Chatham County's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Agenda items (7)

Procedural · 2Staff or committee report · 2Discussion item · 2Minutes approval · 1
  1. 1 Certification of Quorum
    Procedural
  2. 2 Approval of Minutes, March 26, 2026
    Minutes approval
  3. 3 Announcements
    Procedural Data centers and large loads
    The State Energy Conference in late April, and the planning board's 12 May special meeting on data centers.
  4. 4 Report on data center briefing
    Staff or committee report Data centers and large loadsEnvironment and sustainability
    Two members reported from the planning board meeting where staff presented on data centers: energy use, water use, environmental effects and regulatory problems. The planning board asked this committee for the principles behind its recommendation to the commissioners.
  5. 5 Future CCAC research and input to Planning on data centers
    Discussion item Data centers and large loadsEnvironment and sustainabilityTax rate and revaluation
    Research assignments before the planning board's May 12 meeting: power sourcing including air emissions and emergency generators, and tax treatment including equipment assessment and state legislation. Members questioned whether the development ordinance addresses data center water and energy use at all, and noted Chatham's position between Virginia and Georgia makes it a target.
  6. 6 Community Engagement: outline for expanded discussion for the Climate Action Plan
    Discussion item Comprehensive planEnvironment and sustainability
  7. 7 Report from the Director of Chatham County Environmental Quality
    Staff or committee report Environment and sustainabilityGrants and outside funding
    The Electrify program with Central Pines Regional Council, energy audits for county buildings, the resolution to the governor, and the climate action plan request for proposals due by the end of the month.

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