North Carolina environmental regulators will hold a Richmond County Amazon data center hearing Thursday evening in Rockingham.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality will receive comments on two proposed air-quality permits connected to Amazon’s planned Energy Way Tech Campus near Hamlet.
The hearing begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 30, in Courtroom A of the Old Richmond County Courthouse. The courthouse is located at 114 East Franklin Street in Rockingham. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
Permits Cover Temporary and Emergency Power
The Richmond County Amazon data center hearing will address separate permit applications submitted by Duke Energy Progress and Amazon Data Services.
Duke Energy has applied to modify an existing air-quality permit so it can construct and operate 57 diesel-powered engines on Amazon’s property.
The engines would provide what Duke Energy describes as bridge power until the data center is connected to the electrical grid. Under the proposed permit, the temporary engines would have to be retired within one year after grid service begins.
Amazon has separately applied for an air-quality permit covering 588 diesel emergency engines. Those engines would provide backup power and would remain at the site after the temporary bridge-power equipment is removed.
DEQ Completes Preliminary Review
State regulators said air-dispersion modeling indicates emissions from each facility are not expected to violate health-based air-quality standards.
Both projects would require federal Title V major-source air permits. Amazon and Duke Energy would also be required to conduct emissions testing to demonstrate compliance with permit limits.
Public Comments Accepted Through July 31
Residents attending the Richmond County Amazon data center hearing may register to speak when they arrive. Oral comments should be limited to approximately three minutes.
Written comments may also be submitted during the hearing. Comments can be emailed to DAQ.publiccomments@deq.nc.gov using the subject line “Amazon.25A and DukeRichmond.26C.”
The public comment period closes Friday, July 31. Regulators will review the comments before making a final decision on the proposed permits.
Spanish interpretation will be available during the Richmond County Amazon data center hearing.
