Project Overview

The Apex NC Data Center project, also known as the ‘New Hill Digital Campus,’ was a 300 megawatt (MW) facility. Supposed to be developed by Natelli Investment on the 190-acre site on Shearon Harris Road, the project was cancelled and is now withdrawn due to intense community opposition and concerns about infrastructure impacts. 

The developer announced it in March 2026. If constructed, the project would comprise four 70-foot-tall data storage buildings. It was designed to support cloud computing, AI operations, and other digital infrastructure in the region. 

Apex NC Data Center Project Planned Location

The project was planned to be constructed nearly 4.5 miles west of I-540, between US-1 and Old US-1. It is developed on the 190-acre farm site on the Shearon Harris Road in New Hill, Wake County. It is close to the Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant (Duke Energy) and the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility.

Project Background

Natelli Investment identified the project, targeting site development in the mid-2020s. It is a part of Natelli’s plans for three data center projects in North Carolina. No public announcements or filings occurred before 2025; the project remained in pre-application discussions with Apex planning staff through mid-2025.

Jordan Pointe neighbors learned in August 2025 that preliminary plans were being considered for a 300-megawatt hyperscale facility. This raised initial concerns regarding noise, air quality, and infrastructure strain.

On September 3, 2025, Natelli filed formal requests for annexation into Apex, rezoning from residential (R-30) to light industrial (LI), and a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) amendment to define "data storage facility."​

It aligned with Apex's long-term industrial zoning plans in the 2019 Advance Apex 2045 Land Use Map, which previously designated the area for industrial employment but is now zoned residential (R-30).

In November 2025, the developer hosted a dedicated noise-mitigation meeting with residents, which broadened into discussions on water, power, and trust; additional technical adjustments were promised. 

Apex NC Data Center Project Developer

The Apex NC Data Center Project was to be developed by Natelli Investment LLC (also known as Natelli Holdings). It is an experienced third-generation, family-owned development company. The company began focusing on data centers in 2020-2021. To date, it has completed two such facilities in Frederick, Maryland, and Fannie Mae.

Apex NC Data Center Project Latest Updates

​On 5 March 2026, Natelli Investments LLC announced the withdrawal of its annexation & rezoning applications for the New Hill Digital Campus, a 190-acre site on Shearon Harris Road near Apex, North Carolina. 

It was based on the ongoing deliberations over required zoning changes in its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). Overall, it results in the end of the rezoning and annexation process, which began in September 2025. 

The developers claimed that the project would have created approximately 5,800 construction jobs and around USD 20.7 million in tax revenue for local, county, and state governments. But the opposition from residents and the local government led to its withdrawal. 

In the meeting scheduled for 10 March 2026, it will put forward a motion to set a one-year moratorium on any further applications, permits, or construction of data centers in Apex. This period will enable them to update the Unified Development Ordinance, to put firm rules in place to ensure that any future applicants do not harm the health, well-being, or quality of life of any existing Apex resident. 

Why Apex NC Data Center Project cancelled?

The primary reason for the withdrawal and termination of the Apex NC Data Center Project was that Apex residents raised concerns about it. It was about the project’s impact on electricity and water usage, as well as its environmental impacts in the region.

The developer says it requires approximately 300 megawatts of electricity. It won’t take power directly from Shearon Harris but from other power plants that serve Duke Energy’s grid. For cooling purposes, it will use up to one million gallons of water per day. 

Another reason for it was the increased traffic, noise, strain on local infrastructure, and possible health effects from diesel fumes. 

Project Scope

The following is the project scope of the Apex NC Data Center:

• Supports Cloud Computing: The project supports cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and large-scale IT operations.

• Building structure: The project comprises four data center buildings, each approximately 200,000 square feet and 70 feet tall.

• Infrastructure: It comprises an entry security building, water storage and circulation systems, backup generators, an on-site substation, networking hubs, and other ancillary services to support secure operations.

• Water Usage: The facility uses up to one million gallons of water per day for the primary purpose of cooling. It would be extracted from the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility.

• Noise Mitigation: The process includes setbacks, berming, landscaping, sound-attenuation fencing, and equipment design to comply with Apex’s noise ordinances.

Project Timeline

Benefits

The following are the benefits of the Apex Data Center Project:

• Economic benefits: The project aligns with the community’s long-term growth vision and boosts the economy in the Town of Apex, Wake County, and North Carolina.

• Improves Public Infrastructure: The data center facility enhances public infrastructure, including power grids and broadband networks.

• Private Investment boost: The project promises over USD 1 billion in private investment, high-wage, high-tech jobs, and low traffic impacts compared to other industrial uses.

• Bring technological advancements: Data centers promote technological advancement by providing digital foundations for healthcare & finance services.

• Strengthen Technology: The project is expected to create multiple job opportunities and generate tax revenue from businesses to help fund local, county, and state governments, and to boost the overall tech industry in the Triangle area.

• Environmental Mitigation: The project focuses on environmental mitigation measures such as sound monitoring, enhanced setbacks, and vegetation.

Conclusion

The Apex NC Data Center project was a 300 MW facility developed by Natelli Investment on the 190-acre site on Shearon Harris Road. Comprising four 70-foot-tall data storage buildings, the project, if constructed, would position Apex as a premier hub for data-driven growth.

As planned, it was expected to create multiple job opportunities, generate tax revenue for businesses, deliver cutting-edge infrastructure, and advance the Triangle region's technology ecosystem.

Furthermore, upon its completion, the project was to be designed to drive innovation through partnerships with industry leaders and boost local economic resilience.

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The facility focused on sustainability features, such as energy-efficient cooling systems and on-site solar arrays, aligning with North Carolina's clean energy goals and minimizing environmental impact while setting benchmarks for green data infrastructure.

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