Duke Energy
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Coverage (11 articles)
Data Center Pause Extended; Two Exempt Sites Still Build
Council has extended its pause to Oct. 18, 2027, but the two biggest data center projects in the city's pipeline are under construction. Only one must use closed-loop cooling.
On Data Centers, Mecklenburg Wants a Voice It Mostly Lacks
Mecklenburg commissioners got a deliberately neutral briefing on data centers at their May 19 meeting and signaled they want a position on the fast-growing industry. The catch: under North Carolina law, nearly all the zoning power belongs to the cities, not the county.
Charlotte Mandatory Water Restrictions Begin Friday: A Guide
Day-of guide to Charlotte's first mandatory Stage 2 restrictions since 2009: the rules, the five-stage Low Inflow Protocol behind them, the burn ban that arrived with them, and what's enforceable Friday.
Council Unanimously Sets Data Center Moratorium Hearing
A staff briefing showed the city's development code uses one definition of "data center," from a basement server closet to a hyperscale campus.
Charlotte Water Moves to Mandatory Restrictions at Stage 2
Charlotte Water escalates to Stage 2 of the Low Inflow Protocol on Friday, May 15, the first mandatory water restrictions since 2009. The region has reached exceptional drought for the first time since 2008.
Lyles Breaks 5-5 Tie Against Data Center Pause Hearing
The Charlotte City Council deadlocked 5-5 Monday night on whether to even schedule a public hearing on a temporary moratorium for new data center approvals. Mayor Vi Lyles broke the tie, voting no. Meanwhile a data center campus approved for up to 2.5 million square feet is going up at 10800 University City Boulevard.
Charlotte Water Moves to Voluntary Restrictions at Stage 1
Charlotte Water shifted to voluntary water restrictions on Monday, April 20, the first time since 2023, after the Catawba-Wateree River Basin moved to Stage 1 of its regional Low Inflow Protocol. A separate citywide burn ban with a $100 fine and $183 in court costs was imposed alongside it. Here is what the city is asking and what would push the basin further.
Carla Cunningham Leaves the Democratic Party.
After losing her March primary to Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler by nearly 48 points, the seven-term Charlotte representative re-registered Unaffiliated on Friday. She has not said whether she will caucus with Republicans. Speaker Destin Hall's veto-override math doesn't need her to.
Stein Endorses Challenger to Charlotte Rep. Carla Cunningham
Governor endorses challenger to 7-term Charlotte incumbent who votes with GOP 84% of time. March 3 primary will decide whether Democrats can restore veto power.
Five Days in Charlotte Politics: Mi Cabana to Transit Tax
Five chaotic days shut a violent bar, cleared two town ballots, unleashed a Senate shake‑up, and let lawmakers spike your power bill, all before Charlotte finished its second latte.
Tillis Exits, Cooper Eyes Senate, Whatley Tests Trump's Grip
Tillis exits, Cooper edges in, Whatley rolls the Trump dice, and Raleigh fights over a budget nobody can see. Grab a seat, Poll Dance 2025 is warming up.
Other coverage in the Mercury Local network
Charlotte Water Moves to Mandatory Restrictions Friday
Charlotte Water moves to mandatory restrictions Friday, May 15, under Stage 2 of the Low Inflow Protocol: irrigation two days a week, overnight only, for Charlotte Water customers.
Drought Escalates: Ballantyne's Watering Rules Go Mandatory
Charlotte Water's voluntary drought restrictions are being replaced with mandatory rules on Friday, May 15. Ballantyne's irrigation schedule is now two days per week, overnight only, and fines start at $100.
Stage 2 Water Restrictions Start Friday: A Fourth Ward Guide
Charlotte Water's mandatory Stage 2 restrictions take effect Friday, May 15. For Fourth Ward, the biggest direct impacts hit power washing, decorative water features, and the neighborhood's irrigation schedule.
Charlotte's 5-5 Data Center Tie: Why Firethorne Should Care
Charlotte's data center moratorium hearing failed 5-5 with Mayor Lyles breaking the tie no. Firethorne is in Union County, but data centers are basin-scale and grid-scale. Three things to know about water, power, and zoning.
Voluntary Water Limits: What They Mean for Fourth Ward HOAs
Charlotte Water's voluntary restrictions and the citywide burn ban both took effect this week. In Fourth Ward, the practical effect runs through HOAs and condo boards as much as individual units, and the burn ban's 100-foot rule changes more than it might look like.
Catawba-Wateree Drought: What Firethorne Needs to Know
The Catawba-Wateree Basin entered Stage 1 of its regional drought protocol Monday, triggering Charlotte Water's first voluntary restrictions since 2023. Out here in Firethorne, the response runs through whichever utility serves your home, but the drought is shared, and the basin-wide thinking is worth knowing either way.
Charlotte's Stage 1 Drought: What It Means in Ballantyne
Charlotte Water moved to its first voluntary water restrictions since 2023 on Monday, April 20. Here's what the schedule looks like in Ballantyne, and what the basin-wide trigger means for HOA common areas, the burn ban that came with it, and the watershed picture.
Trump Halts New Offshore Wind Leases, Clouding NC Projects
Trump halts offshore wind leases 🌀, raising uncertainty for NC's renewable energy projects. What's next for wind farms off the Carolina coast?