The municipal authorities of Whiteville, North Carolina, have imposed a temporary ban on the construction of new data centers and the installation of digital currency mining equipment. The restrictions took effect immediately on August 25, 2026, and will remain in place for exactly twelve months, unless the city council adopts new land use regulations before that deadline.
The decision to introduce the restrictions stems from the absence of clear standards in existing zoning legislation governing the placement of specialized digital infrastructure facilities. According to Whiteville Mayor Terry Mann, over the course of the year municipal specialists will conduct a comprehensive study of the impact of cryptocurrency mining on local natural resources and public health. Officials will be tasked with calculating the volumes of water resources required to cool computing equipment, assessing the load on electrical grids, and evaluating the overall strain on the city's infrastructure.
Local administration representatives have expressed concern over the potential environmental consequences of unregulated placement of mining facilities. Key risks include elevated greenhouse gas emissions, pollution from backup diesel generators, accumulation of electronic waste, and high levels of noise pollution that could negatively affect the health of local residents.
There are currently no active applications for the construction of data centers within Whiteville, but the municipality has decided to take preemptive action to prevent potential problems in the future. Over the coming year, city authorities plan to study the experience of other North Carolina municipalities in regulating digital infrastructure facilities and develop their own regulatory standards.