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More Domestic Chip-Making Means More ‘Forever Chemicals’
Each modern chip fab requires 200 to 300 metric tons of PFA fluoropolymers — persistent "forever chemicals" linked to cancers and groundwater contamination. Chemours, the only U.S. manufacturer, plans up to $1 billion in expansion as the CHIPS Act's $52 billion reshoring push drives demand, colliding with regulatory efforts to restrict PFAS.
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Ratepayer Protection Act (S730, NC)
Requires site assessment prior to rezoning, building (etc) applications for data centers, to include noise impacts, and optionally impacts on water resources, air quality, thermal plumes, agricultural resources, parks, historic sites, and forestland. Also requires water restrictions, e.g. efficient cooling system, to be determined by Department of Environmental Quality. Prohibits foreign adversary ownership of data…
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An act to repeal the sales and use tax exemption for data centers. (H1213, NC)
Repeals sales tax breaks for data centers.
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An act to reform North Carolina’s approach to integration of large-load electricity customers through amendment of the Public Utilities Act. (S1026, NC)
Requires public utilities to create large-load customer tariffs that ensure cost covering and insulate other customers from advantage or disadvantage due to commencement cessation of operations. Conditions to include: minimum 20-year contracts, billing minimums, paying for upgrades in full before service, access to business information to verify feasibility, financial assurance, load ramp, advance notice of…
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Affordable Energy Omnibus (S844, NC)
Requires certificate from Commission to begin construction or operation of large load facilities, with approval requiring: cost-covering electricity rates; environmental impact study; mitigations for noise pollution; and for large data centers, a local referendum has been held. Provides for establishing rates and processes as mentioned.
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Ratepayer and Resource Protection Act (H1063, NC)
Requires preconstruction disclosure from data centers to Utilities Commission, Department of Environmental Quality and local government, including projected electricity and water usage, cooling systems, and on-site clean power generation. Requires certificate from Commission to begin construction or operation of large data centers, with approval requiring: on-site clean generation capacity to offset at least 25% of…
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An act amending the utilities and tax laws relative to data centers. (H1180, NC)
Requires public utilities to create data center tariffs that ensure cost covering and protect other customers from increased rates and from risk of stranded costs due to lower consumption or cessation of operations. Conditions to include: minimum 10-year contracts, 85% of max billing minimum, financial assurance, advance notice of reduction in demand.
Exposing AI Data Center Threats and Harms