Dem Senate hopeful pivots on data centers as rising power costs collide with campaign

Roy Cooper’s Data‑Center Pivot: A New Angle on North Carolina’s Tech Boom

In the lead‑up to North Carolina’s November 3rd U.S. Senate election, former governor Roy Cooper has shifted his public stance on one of the state’s fastest‑growing industries: data centers. While he once championed the sector’s economic benefits, the Democratic Senate nominee now argues that the industry must shoulder more of its own power costs to protect consumers from rising utility bills.

From Backing to Reining In

When Cooper took office in 2017, North Carolina was already a magnet for data‑center construction, thanks to a 2016 law—G.S.105‑164.13—that offered sales‑tax exemptions for servers, storage, and networking equipment. The incentive required companies to commit at least $75 million to projects over five years, and it paid off. According to a CBRE study, the state saw a 15‑fold jump in data‑center construction during his tenure, a boom tied to tax breaks, renewable‑energy advances, and an urgent need for faster build‑out timelines.

Cooper’s earlier statements celebrated that growth. In 2019 he welcomed Apple’s $845 million Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) for a new campus in Maiden, and highlighted a projected 3,000 jobs that would “benefit communities across our state.” He praised other firms—Meta, Corvid Technologies, GIGA, Microsoft, Segra, and Google—for building or expanding facilities in North Carolina, and touted the state’s universities, workforce, and “welcoming, diverse communities” as key reasons for their investment.

A New Position on Utility Costs

In a recent interview with a local outlet, Cooper said, “We need to make sure data centers pay for their own power and we need to encourage them to build their own energy sources because right now that’s causing rates to go up for consumers and we can’t have that.” The former governor frames his new message within the “make stuff cost less” campaign, a pledge to reduce consumer bills across the board.

Cooper’s call is not a blanket ban on data‑center expansion. He stresses that the “companies that build these data centers must pull their own weight, pay for the power they use and completely remove this burden from North Carolina families and small businesses.” Instead, he advocates that firms invest in their own power generation—whether through renewable sources or on‑site infrastructure—to keep consumer rates down.

The shift comes amid rising utility bills that many North Carolinians attribute to the energy demands of the data‑center sector. Governor Josh Stein, Cooper’s successor, has criticized the industry as a driver of “rising utility costs,” citing a proposed rate hike from Duke Energy as an example. Stein has vowed to push for lower costs and a stronger economy.

Tax Breaks and the Cost to Communities

While the state’s tax incentives have spurred significant investment, critics argue they may be subsidizing the cost of electricity that ultimately falls on residents and small businesses. Cooper has positioned his new stance as a balancing act: keep the tech industry competitive while ensuring it pays its fair share of power costs.

He references the 2016 statute and the 37 companies that secured tax exemptions between 2015 and 2025, noting that each company’s project was tied to large capital investments. For example, Corvid Technologies received a $9 million JDIG reimbursement over 12 years to build two, three‑story data centers and partnered with Duke Energy on infrastructure improvements. Cooper highlighted the company’s contribution to the economy and its decision to locate its headquarters in Mooresville, praising the local workforce and universities.

Cooper’s own record on utility regulation also informs his current message. As governor and attorney general, he vetoed a Senate bill that would have favored higher profits for utility companies over cost‑effective solutions, and he sued Duke Energy to reduce its profit margin. He has described his efforts as “putting aside party politics to fight utility cost increases” for North Carolinians.

Local Control and Community Choice

The Senate campaign spokesperson added that Cooper believes local communities should decide how much data‑center development is acceptable in their area. “Roy believes local communities must have the final say on new projects coming to their area which includes local moratoriums, and data centers must pay for all of the energy they use without passing on any of their costs to consumers,” the statement read. The spokesperson cited longtime utility lobbyist Michael Whatley as an example of those who “shill for his billionaire buddies in the utility industry instead of standing up against rate hikes that are crushing hardworking families.”

Under this philosophy, municipalities could impose moratoria or stricter energy‑cost requirements on new data‑center projects. Cooper’s messaging has been tailored to appeal to voters concerned about the rising cost of living while still acknowledging the jobs and technological infrastructure the sector brings to the state.

Looking Ahead

With the primary already won, Cooper will now face the general election on a platform that blends his experience as a former governor with a new stance on an industry that has reshaped North Carolina’s economy. His campaign’s focus on “making stuff cost less” underscores a broader strategy to address consumer concerns over utilities, while still courting the tech and data‑center markets that have delivered billions in investment.

Whether voters will view his pivot as a pragmatic adjustment or a political posturing remains to be seen. One thing is clear: data centers, once a symbol of progress and growth, are now part of a contentious debate over public resources, energy policy, and the future of North Carolina’s economic landscape. As the campaign heats up, Cooper’s position on the sector will likely become a pivotal talking point for the state’s electorate.