“Statesville Citizens Unite Against Data Center”
Special for Iredell Standing for Truth
September 2025
By: Lynne M Taylor
Background:
Recently a growing effort that’s brought together many people from Statesville, NC (Iredell County’s seat) is paying off. How did another effort to ward off another data center in Iredell County take place? On August 15th, a meeting was held at the Statesville Civic Center, hosted by Compass Data Developers out of Dallas, TX. Taxpayers on Stamey Farm Road were notified, but after some conversations, it was apparent that not everyone in the surrounding area knew about the meeting. Social media played a big part in getting the word out. As a result, about 60 members of Iredell County attended.
Having covered 3 articles of background information for Iredell Standing for Truth where the Mooresville Data Center by Tract Developers came to town, I thought it only right to attend this meeting in Statesville. There, I met some wonderful people who have since formed the group known on Facebook as “Statesville..No to Rezoning to Data Center”[1] This is the group’s cover photo from Facebook.
More about Compass:
As stated above, Compass[2] is based in Dallas TX. Founded in 2011 by a big tech real estate man, the first 1.2 MW (means about 20,000 square feet) data center was completed by Compass. Since then, Compass has massively increased the size of the data centers developed.
In 2017, Redbird Capital Partners[3] and a Canadian based teachers (Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan[4]) group obtained a big chunk of Compass’s company.
Redbird deals with ‘intellectual property’ (which means anything you create using your mind). Where data is concerned, this could be a huge problem, should a data center’s information become compromised. The Ontario group invests in global projects of all kinds, including education. Where data is concerned, the tracking of our children’s data has caused many problems when the information has been breached.
In 2019[5], a private Israeli company, Azrieli Group[6], joined the 2017 investors obtaining a chunk of Compass. Here’s a direct quote from the “Corporate Responsibility” page, “We uphold Zionist values by building and strengthening the national economy, committing to bettering society, and raising the bar in eco-friendly practices.”
Both Compass and Azrieli have ESG Annual Reports. What’s ESG? It’s short for Environmental, Social and Governance. ESG scores are gaining in popularity and are equated with the Social Credit System (SCS) used by China[7].
Artificial Intelligence feeds off of SCS and ESGs[8].
In 2023[9], Brookfield Infrastructure[10] and the Ontario Group bought Compass Data Developers from the Redbird/Azieli investors. As Brookfield’s name includes, ‘infrastructure’ is what this global company deals with. So, that would be water, electricity, etc. If you look into the ‘sustainability’[11] aspect of Brookfield, you’ll see they are on a race for ‘net zero’ carbon.
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With the recent Trump Executive Order[12] mandating the rapid growth of data centers across America, concerns by every American should be surfacing.
In fact, along with the mandates for data centers, an entire new arm[13] of the federal government has been put in place.
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Why? With every data center built, how much of the globalization aspects be brought to Statesville and Iredell County? What about the existing ecosystems that we need to have clean air and fresh water supplies? What about the damage to the land that will be razed to create a Compass Data Center campus? What about the damages that property owners in the immediate area and surrounding zones face? What about the EMF dangers that will be present, especially with 3 schools near the proposed area?
Things Compass (like the other data developers) Aren’t Sharing:
1) Who the clients are that data centers are being built for. Where’s the transparency? We, as taxpayers are expected to reveal so much about where we live, why can’t we learn what company is the new neighbor?
2) If you look at the ESG Report for Compass, lots of cool pictures and nice sounding phrases like ‘we don’t use water’ can be seen. However, in making the AI based concrete, water will be used in some form. How much remains to be answered. Then, the liquids used to cool the data center equipment DOES use air and no water, BUT the liquids are fluorocarbons and hydrocarbons (as reported by Compass partner, Vertiv). Both of these cause health issues to humans and animals.
(Add to this that Iredell County is a recognized EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Radon 2 zone. Radon gas is found in the soil[14] and can cause problems with concrete, so how safe will AI created concrete be?)
3) Tax revenue to be brought to Statesville/Iredell County. Each time this question has been given to Compass, it remains unanswered. Why?
Given the fact that NC offers data center developers at least 3 different tax breaks, the transparency of what Compass will bring is lacking.
4) In the Compass ESG Report, it was stated that e-waste (worn out or damaged data center equipment) was somehow escaped landfills. However, in researching this topic, I found that much of the American e-waste has been shipped to developing countries[15]. IF any of the e-waste is to remain locally, there are little to no guidelines that would protect the soil and water tables from absorbing the lead, mercury and other toxins involved.
5) Compass has stated that the 5 buildings will have 42 generators each and produce a low hum noise. However, is this noise 24/7? What decibel is a “low hum”? This 2023 article[16] about a Compass Data Center in VA, revealed that noises would increase/decrease as temperatures move up and down a thermometer. Does the noise level mentioned include all the generators or is the level given representative of a single generator?
The same type of questions can be pointed to in regards to the height of each of the 5 buildings, the light pollution that will also stem from each building.
6) The potential for a higher electricity bill also faces Statesville/Iredell County. Duke Energy is the largest data center energy provider in NC and is expected to rake in millions, possibly billions[17] from the energy amounts needed by data centers. This doesn’t factor in a rate hike for NC customers by Duke Energy effective 10/1/25[18].
However, do the Duke Energy customers absorb that cost? Citizens are expected to put up with the major inconveniences and consequences of the data centers, but where’s the ‘trade off’ of the out of state companies which come in, set up a campus and then move on?
What inconvenience and consequences do these developers face?
By the way, Duke University has conducted a study[19] that has proven an existing power grid is capable of handling both customers and data centers, with responsible management! Why are we not looking at this for Statesville/Iredell County?
7) Compass has stated that landscaping will occur on the campus of the proposed Statesville Data Center. However, landscaping will not replace the area’s natural habitat for the area’s flora and fauna[20]. Especially the bees that are absolutely vital to humans’ food supply. There are almost 200 species of birds[21], alone, in Iredell County. Many of NC’s bees are ground dwelling[22], meaning their soil must be preserved.
These are just a few of the seemingly unanswered questions.
How You Can Help Statesville Citizens:
Follow the Facebook group, where all kinds of information is posted, as well as meeting announcements. (See footnote #1).
Sign and share the petition!
https://www.change.org/p/prevent-data-center-construction-in-iredell-county-residential-agricultural-area
Sign up with the City of Statesville to see what the next step in the proposed Compass Data Center process is.
https://www.statesvillenc.net/agendas-minutes/
Email the City Council members before the September 15th 2025 meeting
(Where the Compass Data Center will be on the agenda):
https://www.statesvillenc.net/statesville-city-council
If you wish to present public comments (3 minute time limit), you MUST be present before 5:30 pm and sign up in person. No online early submissions are allowed. To sign up you need to supply your name and Statesville address.
Meeting is to be held at 227 S. Center St, Statesville, NC at 6 pm.
If you wish to learn about an existing Compass Data Center in Leesburg, VA and the challenges that the opposition faced, as well as how they are keeping the campus accountable, visit: https://www.pecva.org/
Check to see if the next Data Center meeting held, is accessible on-line:
https://www.pecva.org/region/albemarle-charlottesville-region/join-us-for-a-data-center-community-meeting-tuesday-sept-16/
Exercise your free speech rights and write letters to the City; the editor of local news; share this news with church members, schools, nursing homes, homemaker clubs and any other group which needs to know what’s at stake.
Let Compass and the City of Statesville know that these moves will not ‘make life better’ as Compass has assured it will be.
NC is 2nd in the USA to have lost just over 1 million acres[23] of farmland and will continue to lose millions more due to data centers and solar panels UNLESS we demand the preservation[24]!
[1] https://www.facebook.com/groups/2221076478333924/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
[2] https://www.compassdatacenters.com/
[3] https://redbirdcap.com/
[4] https://www.otpp.com/en-ca/
[5] https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/investing/data-center-developer-compass-secures-3b-to-fund-next-stage-of-growth
[6] https://www.azrieligroup.com/
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cGB8dCDf3c
[8] https://www.spglobal.com/sustainable1/en/solutions/esg-scores-data
[9] https://www.compassdatacenters.com/news/brookfield-infrastructure-and-ontario-teachers-to-acquire-compass-datacenters-from-redbird-capital-partners-and-azrieli-group/
[10] https://bip.brookfield.com/
[11] https://bip.brookfield.com/bip/responsibility
[12] https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/07/white-house-unveils-americas-ai-action-plan/
[13] https://www.ai.gov/
[14] https://www.stegoindustries.com/blog/radon-gas-mitigation-in-new-construction-a-chance-to-get-it-right
[15] https://medium.com/@celions/the-hidden-environmental-cost-of-data-center-growth-millions-of-tons-of-e-waste-0bb4a18dbaa1
[16] https://www.businessinsider.com/data-center-noise-disruptions-loudoun-county-virginia-2023-11
[17] https://www.wfae.org/energy-environment/2025-08-08/duke-energy-announces-nearly-1-billion-in-profits-plans-to-merge-its-two-main-nc-utilities
[18] https://news.duke-energy.com/releases/duke-energy-progress-receives-approval-for-new-rates-in-north-carolina-implements-new-programs-to-help-customers
[19] https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/articles/study-finds-headroom-grid-data-centers
[20] https://www.inaturalist.org/places/iredell-county
[21] https://ncbirds.carolinabirdclub.org/county_list.php?search_type=County+List&county=Iredell&Submit=Submit
[22] https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/insects/bees-in-turf/
[23] https://ncfarmlink.ces.ncsu.edu/nc-farmland-at-risk/
[24] https://www.ncagr.gov/adfp
