Massive Data Center Plan Ignites Local Backlash

Person in suit with hand raised in stop gesture.

A $6.4 billion tech project promises jobs and economic revival in rural North Carolina, but local outrage is mounting over threats to land, environment, and small-town values.

Story Snapshot

Energy Storage Solutions LLC proposes a massive data center and battery facility in Tarboro, NC, creating up to 700 jobs.
Local residents and community groups push back, citing environmental, property, and quality-of-life concerns.
Project bypasses the regional electric grid, relying instead on natural gas and on-site infrastructure.
Approval hinges on ongoing public hearings and the Tarboro Town Council’s decision amid intense local debate.

Tarboro Faces a $6.4 Billion Tech Gamble

In 2025, Energy Storage Solutions LLC (ESS) unveiled a $6.4 billion data center and battery storage campus proposal for over 50 acres in Tarboro, North Carolina. The project is billed as a transformative leap for Edgecombe County, promising between 500 and 700 new jobs in a region still reeling from manufacturing decline. ESS touts the initiative as one of the largest private investments in county history, positioning Tarboro as a future tech and energy hub. Yet, the scale of the plan immediately drew concern from local citizens, who fear it could permanently reshape their rural community.

The proposed campus would combine advanced battery energy storage systems (BESS) with several data centers, a model rarely seen in the Southeast. Unlike most data centers that tie into the regional electric grid, ESS’s design would leverage a nearby natural gas transmission line and an on-site substation. This approach, intended to provide energy independence and reliability, raises questions about emissions, long-term environmental impact, and the project’s true cost to the community. Residents have voiced their skepticism, noting that such industrial-scale energy projects often bring hidden risks and strain local resources.

Community Concerns and Political Tensions

Many Tarboro residents have expressed strong reservations about the project’s impact on local land use, water resources, and property values. Public meetings have been contentious, with community groups demanding transparency from ESS and the Tarboro Town Council. Key worries include potential environmental hazards from large-scale battery storage, increased traffic, and pressure on already limited infrastructure. Local leaders, meanwhile, face a delicate balancing act: the promise of jobs and tax revenue versus the risk of alienating voters who value small-town character and environmental stewardship. The council’s decision will set a precedent for how rural America navigates the trade-offs of high-tech development.

ESS’s plans come as part of a broader push to attract technology and energy investment in North Carolina’s less-developed regions. Tarboro’s industrial park was selected for its available land and proximity to utilities, but the project’s size and speed—potentially operational just a year after approval—have fueled suspicion. Some residents recall past experiences with large-scale projects that failed to deliver promised benefits, heightening demands for rigorous oversight and environmental safeguards. The debate has also highlighted tensions between economic revitalization and the protection of local traditions and conservative values.

What’s at Stake for Conservative Values and Local Control

The Tarboro controversy demonstrates the challenges rural communities face as outside corporations pursue large projects with little local input. For many, the fight is about more than jobs or tax revenue; it’s a defense of property rights, environmental integrity, and the right to self-determination. Critics argue that projects like ESS’s, if pushed through without proper scrutiny, risk eroding constitutional protections, ignoring community voices, and imposing urban-style development on towns that cherish their independence. The outcome in Tarboro may well influence how similar projects are received across the country, especially where conservative values and skepticism of government and corporate overreach run deep.

While supporters tout the potential for economic transformation, opponents warn of gentrification, increased cost of living, and lasting damage to Tarboro’s way of life. Experts note that integrating massive battery storage with data centers is innovative but caution about fire hazards, waste, and the long-term sustainability of such developments. As the permitting process moves forward, all eyes are on the Tarboro Town Council, which must weigh short-term gains against the enduring character and well-being of its community.