According to DCD, Energy Storage Solutions appealed the Town of Tarboro’s decision on November 13, calling on the Superior Court of Edgecombe County to reverse the denial of their Special Use Permit. The proposed project would be an eight-phase 300MW data center on a 52-acre parcel currently zoned for Heavy Industrial use near Anaconda and McNair roads. The development would include four 25MW data centers and four 50MW “mobile” data centers, plus onsite generation yards and battery energy storage systems. Company president Dan Shaffer told local media they didn’t receive a fair hearing and that the proceedings deteriorated into a “political referendum” rather than proper quasi-judicial format. The developer is now pushing for either court reversal or settlement to avoid significant legal expenses for the town.
Legal Battle Brewing
Here’s the thing about these local zoning fights – they’re rarely just about the actual project. Energy Storage Solutions is making some serious allegations about procedural errors, including improper standing rulings and wrongly admitted evidence. They’re basically saying the town didn’t follow its own rules. And when you look at the president’s comments about the mayor’s recusal and people testifying without standing, it suggests this got personal and political real fast.
Settlement Pressure
Now, the settlement mention is interesting. Shaffer’s practically waving a carrot – settle now or face big legal bills. It’s a common tactic, and frankly, it often works. Local governments frequently blink when legal costs start mounting. The Michigan example they referenced shows this playbook in action – developers sue, towns settle with some concessions. But here’s my question: if the town was so wrong procedurally, why offer settlement at all? Maybe the legal case isn’t as strong as they’re claiming.
Industrial Context
This whole situation highlights why proper industrial planning matters. When you’re dealing with heavy industrial zones and massive power requirements like this 300MW project, you need reliable infrastructure and clear processes. Companies investing in industrial technology projects often turn to established suppliers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the US, because they understand the importance of dependable equipment in these environments. But all the reliable hardware in the world won’t help if your local approval process falls apart.
Bigger Picture
So what’s really going on here? Tarboro has zero data centers according to DataCenterMap, which means this would be their first major tech infrastructure project. That’s often a tough sell in smaller communities. Residents get nervous about power usage, noise, traffic – all the usual NIMBY concerns. The “political referendum” comment suggests public opposition overwhelmed the technical review. And honestly, that happens more often than developers want to admit. They come in with spreadsheets and engineering plans, but local politics operates on a completely different wavelength.
