North Carolina's surge in data center proposals, fueled by artificial intelligence demand for large language models and cloud infrastructure, has triggered over 30 local moratoriums across counties and cities in 2026 to study impacts on electricity grids, water resources, and noise levels. A September court ruling allowing a Chatham County project to proceed despite its year-long pause highlights legal limits under state downzoning restrictions, while Raleigh's October 6 approval of a six-month moratorium reflects ongoing community pushback. With no statewide legislation advancing and fragmentation among jurisdictions, trader sentiment hinges on whether legislative momentum builds before key deadlines or upcoming local hearings like Davidson County's.