Proposed Hildebran data center

A Hildebran resident laid out detailed concerns about a proposed 200-megawatt data center: power equal to 133,000 homes, 800,000 gallons of water a day, 90-decibel noise, diesel emissions, and no permanent jobs — asking why it isn't sited at the county's industrial park instead.

A Burke County mother argued AI data centers create few jobs and threaten water, land, and air, disputing claims about closed-loop cooling systems and urging the board to fight for residents' futures.