Residents urge Camden County to place moratorium on data centers and study Project Apex

At the meeting’s public-comment period, residents urged the Camden County Board of Commissioners to place a moratorium on data centers until county code or permit processes address environmental and utility concerns.

Ben Goff (S14) said he is a qualified candidate for the board and asked commissioners to “place a moratorium on data centers in Camden County until a formal policy, a county ordinance, is thoughtfully created and implemented,” citing environmental and utility-cost concerns.

Another commenter identified Project Apex as an active effort by the county’s development authority to recruit a data center and said water and utility constraints had already affected site selection. The speaker urged the board to enact rules—through code enforcement or water-permit controls—to prevent future environmental or utility problems.

Rick Manning (S16), who said he has worked with other counties on data center issues, recommended the county adopt design and construction rules to protect waterways and the environment; he said environmentally friendlier designs exist but are more expensive and must be enforced.

The board did not take immediate formal action on the moratorium request during the meeting; commissioners discussed related topics elsewhere on the agenda and indicated interest in public engagement and ensuring any poll or town hall on related issues would be clearly advisory.