Kingsboro data center campus (Energy Storage Solutions)
Also called: Kingsboro NetZero Data Center Campus, Kingsboro CSX Select Megasite data center
Energy Storage Solutions planned a $19.2 billion, 900-megawatt data center campus powered by natural gas at the Kingsboro megasite. Many neighbors opposed it. In July 2026 the company pulled out, saying its investors wanted to build in friendlier places.
Where things stand: The developer withdrew its offer to buy county land in July 2026. The county returned its deposit.
🕒 Latest update (July 2026): The developer withdrew its offer to buy the land. Commissioners voted to return its deposit and moved toward a hearing on a two-year data center pause.
What we know
- 📍 WhereKingsboro Business Park (Kingsboro CSX Select megasite), between Rocky Mount and Tarboro, Edgecombe County, Edgecombe County
- 🏢 CompanyEnergy Storage Solutions LLC
- ⚡ Power it needs900 megawatts (about as much as 720,000 homes)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromPlanned to run on natural gas, with battery storage.
- 💵 Cost$19.2 billion
- 👷 Jobs promised1,000
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How many acres would the project have used? Reports say 300 acres for the campus but only about 20 to 28 acres in the land deal. 🙋 I'll find out
- Will another data center developer seek the Kingsboro site? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Nov 2025Edgecombe County commissioners changed county rules so a data center could be built at Kingsboro Business Park.
- Nov 25, 2025Neighbors formed a group to oppose the county selling the land until they got more information.
- March 10, 2026Residents and river advocates spoke out against the plan, citing worries about the Tar River and wastewater.
- July 2026The developer withdrew its offer to buy the land. Commissioners voted to return its deposit and moved toward a hearing on a two-year data center pause.
Local votes and rules
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
Edgecombe County commissioners voted 5-0 for a two-year pause on building data centers. It came after a developer dropped its plan to buy county land at Kingsboro Business Park. The county will rework its development rules.
🗺️ Zoning change
Edgecombe County changed its development rules so a data center could be built at Kingsboro Business Park. After community pushback, the county later reversed course and passed a two-year pause.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Developer Forges Ahead With $38B in North Carolina Data Center Builds · Data Center Knowledge · Nov 5, 2025
- Opposition mounts to proposed large data center in Edgecombe County · WFAE · Nov 25, 2025
- Edgecombe County residents and environmental advocates take stand against massive wave of proposed data centers · Public Radio East · March 10, 2026
- $20B North Carolina Data Center Canceled Amid Moratorium Debate · Bisnow · July 8, 2026
- Company that eyed land for data center withdraws its offer · Rocky Mount Telegram · July 14, 2026
See something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.