Take Action! Say NO to Data Center in Matthews, NC!

Ask Hard Questions

• How much will residential electric bills increase?

• How many diesel generators, and how often will they run?

• How will stormwater runoff be managed?

Voice Your Concerns

• Air Pollution

• Water Pollution

• 24/7 Lights and Noise

• Fewer than 50 jobs created

• Data Centers / Farms are not regulated

• Full Environmental Impact Study to be completed prior to any rezoning or permitting approval

• Demand a public breakdown of total electricity demand and grid upgrades

• Uphold East John Small Area Plan

Make Demands

Sign up to Support Matthews, NC!

Let your voice be heard, protect our air, water, and community!

Stop the Data Center in Matthews!

Plans are advancing for a 123-acre data center campus, known as “Project Accelerate” at 1603 E. John St. in Matthews, NC, as part of a significant regional boom in AI and high-tech development. An entity affiliated with Crosland Southeast and Crow Holdings Development is seeking to rezone the site for the project.

The proposed data center is

1.2 miles from Downtown Matthews

Business Insider: Exposing The Dark Side of America's AI Data Center Explosion

Data Center Concerns

Massive Water Consumption

Data centers use millions of gallons of water per day for cooling, straining local water supplies, especially in drought-prone areas. In one instance, residents of Newton County, GA, reported their wells ran dry after a Meta data center began construction nearby. In another case, the water consumption of data centers in Loudoun County, VA, increased by 63% from 2019 to 2023.

Strained Power Grids

The electricity demand of data centers is growing exponentially, driven by the needs of AI processing. This can strain local and regional power grids, requiring costly infrastructure upgrades that can get passed on to residential consumers through higher utility rates. In March 2025, a report from Data Center Watch revealed that AI data centers could account for 44% of U.S. electricity load growth by 2028.

Data centers operate massive diesel generators for backup power, which emit pollutants like nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter that can cause respiratory issues for residents. Nearby residents also report constant, low-frequency humming from cooling fans and transformers that disrupts their quality of life.

Air & Noise Pollution