Halifax County commissioners are scheduled to consider significant changes Tuesday to the economic development agreement for a proposed $250 million data center, including an arrangement that could place ownership of the entire approximately 251-acre county property in a separate company formed in Wyoming in July.
Under the proposed Amended and Restated Economic Development Agreement, Quiet Data Centers Halifax Inc. intends to have title to the property vested in Project Halifax LLC, identified in the agreement as a “Related Member Party.”
County Attorney Glynn Rollins confirmed Friday that if the property is sold, Project Halifax would generally be free to determine how the property is used and Halifax County would retain no financial interest in future development or leasing of the land.
“Given that the company will be paying full market value for the property, it will be their property to use in whatever manner they deem fit,” Rollins told the Roanoke Valley Reporter.
The proposed agreement would allow Halifax County to sell the approximately 251-acre property off Trestle Road in Enfield Township to either Quiet Data Centers Halifax or Project Halifax for $1.7 million.
County documents state commissioners previously determined the property’s fair market value to be $1.7 million after taking into consideration the company’s commitments involving job creation, wages and taxable investment.
Questions over remaining acreage
During Quiet Data Centers Halifax’s presentation of the project to county commissioners, the company indicated that the proposed data center would initially occupy approximately 14 acres of the site.
That prompted the Reporter to ask what could happen to the remaining approximately 237 acres if the entire property is conveyed to Project Halifax.
Rollins said the county does not know what Project Halifax intends to do with the acreage and referred that question to the companies.
When asked whether Project Halifax would be permitted to subdivide, lease, ground lease or otherwise allow third parties to use portions of the property, Rollins said the property would belong to the company to use as it sees fit.
He also confirmed that Halifax County would receive no revenue from future leases or other development of the property beyond applicable taxes.
“Since Halifax County is being paid full value for the property, Halifax County will retain no financial interest in the property,” Rollins said.
The proposed agreement requires written county consent before ownership of the property can be transferred to another party during the term of the agreement. Rollins confirmed that restriction does not apply to leases, ground leases, development agreements or similar arrangements that do not transfer ownership.
Rollins also confirmed there are no provisions in the amended economic development agreement restricting use of the property exclusively to the proposed data center or related operations.
County attorney disputes assumption about 237 acres
Rollins cautioned against assuming the approximately 237 acres outside the originally stated 14-acre data center footprint will not eventually be used for data center development.
“Your question presumes that 237 acres of property will not be used for a data center,” Rollins said. “You should not make that presumption without some basis for it. It likely is a false presumption.”
Rollins said the county cannot predict how Project Halifax or a future owner might ultimately use the property.
“The new owner will be able to do whatever it wants with the property – just like any of the other thousands of responsible, law-abiding property owners in Halifax County,” Rollins said.
The Reporter has sought additional information from Quiet Data Centers Halifax regarding its plans for the property.
Project Halifax formed in July
Project Halifax did not exist when Halifax County entered into its original Economic Development Agreement and Land Purchase Agreement with Quiet Data Centers Halifax on Dec. 15, 2025.
Wyoming Secretary of State records show Project Halifax LLC was organized July 6, 2026.
The organizer was Brendan Morris, chief financial officer of Quiet Data Centers and the company representative who recently appeared before Halifax County commissioners to present the data center project.
The Wyoming filing lists Morris at 219 Calle Thebe in Dorado, Puerto Rico, and lists his email address using Quiet Data Centers’ quietdc.com domain.
Project Halifax applied for authority to conduct business in North Carolina four days later, on July 10. That filing again identifies Morris as organizer and gives the same Puerto Rico address as his business address. The North Carolina filing states that Project Halifax does not have a principal office.
County agenda materials state that Quiet Data Centers intends to assign its rights under the Land Purchase Agreement to Project Halifax. The county’s understanding is that Project Halifax would own the land while Quiet Data Centers Halifax would continue to own and operate the fixed data center.
Rollins referred questions about why the companies are separating ownership of the land from ownership of the data center, as well as questions about common ownership or control of the companies, to Quiet Data Centers.
County attorney outlines financial benefits
Rollins also defended the county’s decision to sell the entire property rather than retain acreage for future economic development.
He said Halifax County originally acquired the property specifically for economic development and has received only farm-rental income while owning it. Because the county owns the property, it is also currently outside the property-tax base.
According to figures provided by Rollins, the county expects several measurable financial benefits from the transaction.
The county would receive $1.7 million in cash at closing and the land itself would immediately enter the county tax base at an assumed $1.7 million assessed value.
Once the data center is completed and the required $250 million taxable investment is established, Rollins estimates it would generate approximately $1.75 million annually in Halifax County property taxes, another $250,000 annually for Halifax County Public Schools through the supplemental school tax, and approximately $189,000 annually for the Enfield Fire Department through the Enfield Fire District tax.
The project is also required to create at least 50 permanent full-time jobs paying above Halifax County’s average hourly wage.
Project Halifax would share liability
The proposed amendment would make Project Halifax a party to the economic development agreement and jointly and severally liable with Quiet Data Centers Halifax for certain financial remedies if QDCH fails to meet its commitments involving taxable investment, jobs and wages.
QDCH is required to establish and maintain at least $250 million in taxable investment for 10 years, excluding the assessed value of the land conveyed by the county.
The company must also create and maintain 50 permanent full-time jobs. The proposed agreement identifies Halifax County’s current average hourly wage as $20.57 and requires the company’s average hourly wage to remain above the county average throughout the agreement.
Both Quiet Data Centers Halifax and Project Halifax would be required to remain current on property taxes owed to Halifax County.
Development deadline would change
County agenda materials state the amendment changes the date for QDCH to become operational from no later than 36 months from the date of the original Economic Development Agreement to no later than 36 months from the date of closing on the property.
Under the revised agreement, “Year 1” would be the first calendar year in which the company is liable for county property taxes on at least $250 million in taxable investment and would begin no later than Jan. 1 of the calendar year following 36 months from the closing date.
How much additional development time that provides will depend on when the property sale closes.
New environmental and ratepayer protections
The amended agreement would also incorporate several standards from Senate Bill 730, referred to in the agreement as the “Ratepayer Protection Act.”
Although the agreement acknowledges the legislation remains pending in the North Carolina General Assembly and “may never be adopted,” QDCH would contractually agree to several of its proposed protections.
Those include assessments examining noise near residences and schools within 500 feet and potential impacts involving water resources, air quality, thermal plumes, agricultural resources, parks, historic sites and forestland.
The company would also be required to use a closed-loop water or liquid cooling system designed to minimize water consumption and would be prohibited from using an evaporative cooling system.
Electric service contracts would be required to contain provisions designed to prevent other residential, retail and wholesale electricity customers from subsidizing costs associated with serving the data center.
Failure to comply with applicable local, state and federal laws would also expressly constitute a breach of the agreement.
Commissioners asked for their positions
The Roanoke Valley Reporter also contacted each member of the Halifax County Board of Commissioners seeking their individual positions on the proposed arrangement.
Commissioners were asked whether they believe selling the entire approximately 251-acre property under the proposed structure is in Halifax County’s best interest and why selling the entire tract is preferable to retaining acreage for future economic development opportunities.
Commissioner Gary Redding responded Friday, saying he is still reviewing the proposed agreement and wants to hear the matter discussed by the full board before taking a position.
“Thank you for sending these questions. I am continuing to review the proposed Amended and Restated Economic Development Agreement and expect several of these issues to be addressed during Tuesday’s Board discussion,” Redding said. “I would prefer to hear that discussion and receive clarification before commenting further.”
The Reporter had not received responses from the remaining commissioners as of publication. The inquiries were submitted Friday ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend, and any additional responses received will be included in subsequent coverage.
The Halifax County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider the amended agreement during its regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 8.
