Amazon (AWS) data center campus at Energy Way Industrial Park
Also called: Energy Way Tech Campus, Project Blue Marlin
Amazon is building a $10 billion campus of about 21 data center buildings on 650 acres near Hamlet. It will need about 1 gigawatt of power and has state permits for about 645 diesel generators. Neighbors and environmental groups worry about air pollution in an area already burdened by pollution.
Where things stand: Under construction. State air permits for about 645 generators were approved in September 2026. Amazon expects to open in early 2027.
🕒 Latest update (Sept 2026): State approved two air permits covering about 645 diesel generators.
What we know
- 📍 WhereEnergy Way Industrial Park, Airport Road, Hamlet area, next to Duke Energy's Smith power plant complex, unknown, Richmond County
- 🏢 CompanyAmazon Data Services
- 🏛️ Owned byAmazon
- 👤 Built forAmazon Web Services
- 🌳 Size650 acres
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromDuke Energy. About 1 gigawatt needed. Duke will run about 57 temporary diesel generators on site for about a year until the grid hookup is ready.
- 🛢️ Diesel generators645
- 💵 Cost$10 billion
- 💸 Tax breaksCounty commissioners approved yearly cash grants for 20 years, based on the property taxes Amazon pays, if it meets job and investment goals. Amazon pays for water, sewer and fiber upgrades. News reports describe a 50% building tax break; no state incentives.
- 👷 Jobs promised500
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How much water will the campus use per day, and where will it come from? 🙋 I'll find out
- Did the county sign a secret deal (NDA) during talks with Amazon? 🙋 I'll find out
- Will new power lines be needed? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- June 3, 2025Richmond County commissioners approved an incentive package.
- June 4, 2025Amazon and the governor announced a $10 billion data center campus.
- Oct 2025Amazon held a groundbreaking at Energy Way Industrial Park.
- July 30, 2026State air quality officials held a public hearing on air permits for Amazon and Duke Energy generators in Rockingham.
- Sept 2026State approved two air permits covering about 645 diesel generators.
Local votes and rules
🤝 Agreement with the company
Richmond County commissioners approved incentives for Amazon's $10 billion data center campus: yearly cash grants for 20 years equal to part of its property taxes, if Amazon meets job and investment goals.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Amazon planning $10B investment in North Carolina for data center and AI campus · ABC11 · June 4, 2025
- Public hearing planned for Amazon and Duke Energy data center project in Richmond County · WFAE · June 29, 2026
- State regulators to hold public hearing for Amazon's large Richmond County data center · WFAE · July 30, 2026
- Richmond County Amazon data center air pollution · WFAE · Sept 16, 2026
- Amazon breaks ground on $10bn data center complex in Richmond County, North Carolina · DatacenterDynamics · Oct 2025
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