HAMLET — Both air quality permits related to the Amazon data center campus at the Energy Way Industrial Park have been approved, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Division of Air Quality announced Aug. 28.
DEQ says the permits “cap emissions and include conditions to ensure that all federal air quality standards will be met.”
“The permits also require the use of control technologies to minimize emissions and, in response to public feedback, include additional emissions testing and monitoring requirements,” according to DEQ.
One permit, issued to Amazon, allows 588 backup engines to operate — during power outages and "limited periods of maintenance, testing and activation” — at the site on Airport Road, south of Hamlet.
The second permit was issued to Duke Energy, allowing for 57 temporary “bridge power” engines to provide electricity — up to 364 days — until Amazon’s data center is connected to the power grid.
Those permits also come with additional requirements, including: more recordkeeping and reporting; more initial testing of Duke’s generators; that the bridge power engines be exclusively used to power the Amazon facility; and clarification of fuel usage monitoring for the Amazon permit.
“The Department recognizes there is significant public concern about these projects,” DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson said in a press release. “While the Division of Air Quality’s statutory authority is limited in the review of these projects, protecting air quality remains paramount for this Department. We appreciate the community’s input and will ensure both Amazon and Duke Energy comply with all of the requirements in these permits.”
The decision comes a month after DEQ hosted a public hearing in Rockingham, with opposition from some Richmond County residents, as well as local and regional groups like the Southern Environmental Law Center.
DEQ notes in its press release that there had been concerns about issuing separate permits.
“While both air quality permits relate to Amazon’s data center, the two permitted activities are not under the control of the same company and the two permits serve different purposes on different time horizons,” reads the release, noting that Amazon controls the emergency backup engines and Duke Energy controls the temporary bridge power engines before Amazon’s connection to the grid.
“Furthermore, issuing a combined permit could result in the release of higher overall emissions,” the release continues. “Under normal operation, Duke Energy’s bridge power and Amazon’s backup engines will not operate concurrently.”
DEQ says it analyzed both projects and “found that compliance with applicable standards can be achieved.”
“Actual emissions of Amazon’s backup generators are expected to be far below these worst-case levels.”
In an op-ed published last week, Roger Wehner, Amazon’s vice president of economic development, said that the backup generators will run an average of 10 hours per year.
“Our generators comply with all environmental regulations, but we go further, voluntarily investing in advanced emissions control technology that significantly lowers nitrogen oxides by 90%, particulate matter by 70%, and carbon monoxide by 80%, well below required levels,” Wehner said.
DEQ says it reviewed air dispersion models and determined “that the emissions of toxic air pollutants from each facility are not expected to violate health-based air quality levels.
“In response to public comments, DAQ evaluated potential uncontrolled acrolein emissions (a toxic air pollutant) from Amazon’s engines and found they are also expected to comply with health-based levels.”
“North Carolina has maintained compliance with all federal air quality standards for more than 11 consecutive years,” concludes the release. “DAQ expects these standards to continue to be met with the issuance of these permits.”
The Amazon project was announced in June 2025, days after the Richmond County Board of Commissioners approved an incentive agreement for “Blue Marlin.”
Ground was broken the following November and the first phase of the project is still under construction.
Amazon has repeatedly said that the campus will employ 500 people.
Amazon is hosting an open house at Cole Auditorium from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1 to answer questions about the facility.
