As a way of introduction, I am a former Northampton County resident now living in Johnston County. I lived in Northampton for almost 40 years.
On to the subject of this letter. Data centers. I have been doing grassroots environmental work for over 30 years; as a volunteer in my community and on staff with Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League. Some may remember the ThermalKem issue. There is always secrecy around controversial facilities, but I have never seen the level of secrecy, obstruction, dishonesty, duplicity, and lack of transparency that I have seen around data centers.
This occurs at the state and local level. Refusal to provide public records and ignoring requests is likely due to local (even state) officials being required to sign non-disclosure and/or confidentiality agreements.
Take Halifax County for example; the county signed an economic development “agreement” with Quiet Data Centers Halifax on December 17,2025 which includes this clause: “The County further agrees that, if it is required to respond to a request for information pursuant to the Public Records Act, it will notify the Company of such request [requests] for information and its intended response prior to sending the response, provided that failure to provide notice shall not be considered a default under this agreement. The County agrees to allow the Company a reasonable opportunity to provide the County with its position on the County's response to the Public Records Act request. If the County is subject to a legal challenge concerning the exclusion of information that the Company desires to remain confidential, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless the County for all costs associated with protecting Company's confidential information from disclosure under the Public Records Act, including legal fees, regardless of the outcome of such challenge, provided that the Company may, at any time, decide to have the County release the withheld information at which point the Company's obligation to indemnify and hold harmless ends for any costs incurred after the date of such release notification by the Company.”
The County attorney sought and received permission from the company to release this document to me. Question: will QDCH authorize the County to release documents regarding this project?
Halifax County is not alone; local governments across the State and nation are refusing to produce records which belong to the public regarding proposed or existing data centers. I currently have several records requests/queries out that have largely remained unanswered. The question is why?
Unless and until that question is answered, and other legitimate concerns are addressed, communities are justified in being wary about this fancy new industry.
Therese Vick
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League