Fracking

Renewed his call for a moratorium on drilling, fracking, and data centers, calling the draft UDO standards 'insultingly weak' and criticizing SAGA's credibility.

Returned during public comment to ask where the fracking moratorium is, warning the Gas and Oil Commission meets May 9 and her farm could be force-pooled.

Compared data centers to a landfill fight he helped win, citing unusable land footprints, few jobs, and health risks; demanded a moratorium and accountability at the ballot box.

A Deep River resident with a small farm and a child with asthma urged a moratorium, citing risks to wells, groundwater, air, and summer water shortages.

An attorney, Army veteran, and Jonesboro business owner noted no hands were raised in support of the data center and warned of contaminated water outcomes seen in the Cape Fear Basin.

Urged slowing down and gathering facts, saying 'a rush to judgment is a rush to regret' and that a moratorium makes sense.

A Republican from Cumnock Road sharply criticized the Board's inaction and Chairman Smith by name, urging the minority commissioners to act.

Said the current proposal is under-regulated and supported a moratorium of at least two years to put guardrails in place.

Warned the Cumnock area sits over unmapped old coal mines and recalled past textile pollution, urging the Board to protect residents.

A conservative well-water resident and hunter on the Deep River said data centers create few jobs and predicted the company would exhaust resources and file bankruptcy; urged a moratorium.

A retired hospice social worker spoke about regret and responsibility, supporting a moratorium and opposing both fracking and data centers.

A medical professional who places dialysis catheters described patients with heavy-metal kidney failure and cited fracking health research; asked for a moratorium to study the capped Butler well site.

An NC State emeritus professor who chose Sanford five years ago asked the Board to delay the data center via moratorium, noting many residents couldn't attend.

An Army veteran with tinnitus described permanent noise pollution harms near data centers and urged a moratorium to set sound standards first.

Cited a Brookings Institution article urging regions to slow down and get the right standards in place before deciding.

A licensed plumber and well contractor educated the Board on well and water risks, noting county water in Harnett also comes from wells.

A Clean Water for North Carolina staffer presented a report on the AI data center business model, said residents already pay higher bills for Microsoft's data centers, and endorsed a moratorium.

A taxpayer and voter who came simply to support a moratorium on fracking and data centers.

Asked the Board, City Council, and SAGA to prohibit NDAs in data center deals, cited Moore County's two-year moratorium, and urged the county to be selective about industry.

A nearly 36-year Sanford resident raising four daughters here asked for a moratorium until the county understands what it's approving.

Reminded the Board their decisions affect current and future generations.

Reported the state geologist expects a Deep River Data drilling application and urged a moratorium, noting other counties have acted; also criticized dismissive responses from a commissioner.

Third time speaking on the issue; asked why no moratorium has been placed and requested a public vote and an agenda item on the topic.

A retired teacher who criticized the board for denying environmental groups agenda time, and highlighted the Cape Fear River's role as a drinking water source downstream.

Toxic Free NC's organizing director urged moratoria on fracking, drilling, and data centers, noting Deep River Data would be the first commercial well in the Triassic Basin and citing the 1925 Coal Glen mine disaster.

Asked why the board voted quickly on the Dream Center but won't vote on a moratorium residents have requested for months, and urged a public vote to join Chatham County's ban.

The Haw Riverkeeper said Deep River contamination would flow into Sanford's drinking water and downstream to her Pittsboro community, and formally requested the board start a moratorium process.

Representing Cumnock Union Church, described billions of gallons of water in abandoned coal mine voids under Cumnock and cracking foundations, warning the area is too fragile for drilling or blasting.

Newer resident troubled by the Butler Well No. 3 permit plan, questioned whether developers' property rights supersede residents' right to a healthy environment, and questioned the AI/Bitcoin economics.

Delivered an impassioned, at times inflammatory critique — calling the project a Bitcoin scheme, invoking the coal ash history, and pointedly challenging Chairman Smith over press comments; the chairman cut him off and denied any impropriety.

Asked the board to enact a moratorium before any application arrives, citing cancer-cluster concerns from other fracking regions and unknown AI influence.

On a fixed income with a well on the Deep River, she said fracking could destroy her groundwater and she couldn't afford city water or bottled water; also opposes the data center.

Cited outdated 2015 oil and gas commission rules, forced pooling risks for homeowners who don't own mineral rights, and asked again for a fracking moratorium.

Argued the AI bubble is deflating, making the data center economically unviable, and warned fracking would crater land values and force tax hikes or school cuts.

Asked the board to enact a moratorium on fracking, drilling, and any AI data center to gain breathing room and follow the science.

Simply and memorably: she and her shih tzu don't want to drink water that might be flammable — the county needs a fracking moratorium.

Clean Water for NC staffer confirmed no application has been filed yet, called the situation a 'gift of time,' and urged a temporary moratorium now while the county has the most legal latitude.

Warned from experience in rural Southern communities that one big economic tragedy can leave a rural town in permanent ruin, and opposed a rushed decision.