ROCKINGHAM — A public hearing is scheduled next week for requested air quaily permits for the Amazon Web Services data center complex and the neighboring Duke Energy Progress facility.
The hearing, held by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Division of Air Quality, is scheduled for 6 p.m. July 30 at the old Richmond County courthouse.
According to Amazon’s draft permit application, the campus — which will feature 21 data center buildings once complete — “does not emit any regulated air pollutants during the normal course of operation.”
However, the application notes, the complex will require backup power “to ensure continuous operation during grid outages,” resulting in numerous emergency generators to be installed onsite.
The application states that each building will have 28 “diesel/renewable diesel-fired critical (“Type A”) emergency generators,” for a total of 588 generators on the 700-plus-acre site south of Hamlet on Airport Road.
Amazon is also proposing to have four ancillary diesel/renewable diesel-fired emergency generators, diesel/renewable diesel fuel belly tanks associated with each generator, and 21 diesel/renewable diesel bulk storage tanks, according to the application.
Duke’s application, submitted in March, initially proposed the installation and operation of 54 temporary non-emergency engines and six fuel oil storage tanks in the Amazon footprint, known as a Bridge Power Asset.
On May 18, Duke filed an amendment to its application to include three 300-killowatt generators and three additional fuel oil storage tanks.
Another amendment was filed at the end of May, with Duke requesting a condition to limit the duration of the Bridge Power Project to no more than 364 days.
“Since inception of this project, the goal of the Bridge Power Project was to provide an interim power solution for AWS to begin initial commissioning activities while a transmission line was constructed,” reads the amendment. “Codifying the Bridge Power Project as a limited duration effort through a permit restriction will help reassure any plant neighbors of our intent.”
According to DEQ=DAQ, the applications were reviewed, which “led to the preliminary determination that these applications could be approved and Division of Air Quality permits could be issued, if certain permit conditions are met.”
“Air dispersion modeling determined that the emissions at each facility are not expected to violate health-based air quality standards,” reads a press release from DEQ issued July 21.
The applications and other documents can be found here.
Those who cannot attend the meeting and wish to comment on the matter can send remarks in an email to daq.publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with the subject line "Amazon.25A and DukeRichmond.26C.”
Comments can also be made via voicemail by calling 910-707-8726. Commenters are asked to identify which draft permit (Amazon, Duke or both) they are commenting on.
According to DEQ, comments will be accepted until Friday, July 31.
You may also leave a voicemail comment at 919-707-8726. In your comment, please identify which draft permit (Amazon, Duke Energy, or both) you are commenting on. Comments will be accepted until Friday, July 31, 2026.
NOTE: This story has been updated to include the link to the DEQ website. 2:49 p.m. 7-28-26.
