Project Delta data center campus along the Dan River
Also called: Project Delta
A developer wants to build a huge data center campus on about 1,800 acres of farmland along the Dan River. The first approval was thrown out after a lawsuit over public notice. Commissioners approved it again 3-2 in September 2026 with stricter rules on noise, power and water.
Where things stand: Commissioners approved the new rezoning 3-2 in September 2026, after a court voided the first approval. More lawsuits are possible.
🕒 Latest update (Sept 2026): Commissioners approved the new rezoning 3-2 with stricter rules on noise, power and water.
What we know
- 📍 WhereAbout 1,800 acres of farmland along the Dan River near the Virginia line, in the Walnut Cove area, Stokes County, Stokes County
- 🏢 CompanyEngineered Land Solutions (ELS)
- 🌳 Size1,848 acres
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromA new substation just for the campus; on-site power generation is possible.
- 🗼 New power linesYes
- ❄️ Coolingclosed-loop cooling (developer says)
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Which company will use the data centers? 🙋 I'll find out
- How much power will it need, and will it bring new power lines or a power plant? 🙋 I'll find out
- How much water will it use, and will it take water from the Dan River? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Jan 12, 2026County commissioners approved the rezoning 3-2, against the planning board's advice.
- March 12, 2026Community groups sued to block the rezoning.
- July 2026ELS filed a new rezoning application.
- July 13, 2026Commissioners allowed data centers in heavy industrial conditional zones countywide and rejected a moratorium.
- Aug 2026Planning board voted 5-2 to recommend denial again; a court voided the January rezoning.
- Sept 2026Commissioners approved the new rezoning 3-2 with stricter rules on noise, power and water.
Local votes and rules
🗺️ Zoning change
Stokes County commissioners voted 3-2 to rezone about 1,800 acres for the Project Delta data center, after a January approval was voided. The developer added stricter limits on noise, power and water. Opponents' lawyers said more legal action is possible.
📌 Other
Stokes County commissioners voted down a six-month data center pause that the planning board had recommended. The same night they changed county rules to allow data centers in heavy industrial conditional zones countywide.
⚖️ Court case
Community groups and residents, represented by the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and the Southern Environmental Law Center, sued over the January 2026 Project Delta rezoning and a countywide rule change. The January rezoning was later voided, and the developer reapplied.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- What is going on with data centers in Stokes County, North Carolina? · Southern Coalition for Social Justice · 2026
- Inside Stokes County's latest vote on the Project Delta data center · WUNC · Sept 15, 2026
- Planning board again recommends denial of Stokes data center · WFAE · Aug 14, 2026
- Stokes County proposed data center creates backlash · Spectrum News · Jan 12, 2026
- Proposal filed for 1,800-acre data center campus outside Greensboro, North Carolina · Baxtel · Jan 10, 2026
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