Skip to main content
Compute Atlas
← Back to the map

Walnut Cove, NC · Stokes County County · 36.282°N 80.149°W

Project Delta Data Center – Stokes County

Undisclosed (rezoning applicant: Engineered Land Solutions)

ProposedLikely AI-specificReported

This facility is proposed and has not been reported as operational. Details are based on public filings and announcements as of .

Key facts

Location
Walnut Cove, NC, Stokes County County
Capacity
—
Powered by
—
Announced
2025-11
Last updated

Civic impact

Economics

Land
1,800 acres

Energy & water

Energy source
On-site gas · Utility: Duke Energy (Belews Creek proximity; no confirmed interconnection)
Cooling
Closed-loop

Developer plans temporary on-site natural-gas generators until a Duke Energy grid connection becomes feasible; no confirmed interconnection agreement found. Environmental groups flagged methane/CO2 from continuous generator use.

Developer estimates 50,000-100,000 gal/day (0.05-0.10 MGD) via a closed-loop system, sourced from municipal supply (not the Dan River) — a range, so no numeric MGD.

Community sentiment

Litigation

Lawsuit filed March 13, 2026 in Stokes County Superior Court by Southern Coalition for Social Justice and Southern Environmental Law Center, representing National Hairston Clan, CleanAIRE NC, Dan River Basin Association, 7 Directions of Service, and local residents. Rezoning challenged as lacking procedural safeguards required by NC law. Stokes County Board of Commissioners voted April 14, 2026 to void the January 12 rezoning and text amendment, acknowledging statutory notice failures. Developer ELS expressed intent to resubmit a compliant application; lawsuit remains pending.

NC communities push back on AI data centers – Project Delta lawsuit

Status history

  1. Proposed

    Engineered Land Solutions submitted rezoning application for 1,800 acres from agricultural/farm use to heavy industrial/commercial near Dan River and Belews Creek Coal Plant

  2. Permitted

    Stokes County Board of Commissioners approved rezoning 3-2 despite opposition from county Planning Board and residents

    NC communities push back on AI data centers – Project Delta lawsuit
  3. Permitted

    Lawsuit filed in Stokes County Superior Court by SCSJ and SELC seeking to invalidate rezoning

    NC communities push back on AI data centers – Project Delta lawsuit
  4. Proposed

    Stokes County Board of Commissioners voted to void January 12 rezoning and text amendment, citing statutory notice failures; project must restart via fully compliant new application

    NC communities push back on AI data centers – Project Delta lawsuit

Location

Sources & data provenance

Reported: data based on credible news outlets or industry sources.

Last updated:

Compute Atlas is community-correctable. If you have better data, please open an issue.

Suggest a correction →