North Carolina 911 Board Awards Over $13 Million for Emergency Communications Upgrades as Governor Stein Presses Data Centers to Bear Their Own Power Costs
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein held an NC Strong Update in Raleigh on October 27, announcing that the North Carolina 911 Board has awarded more than $13 million in grant funding this year to support critical equipment upgrades and facility enhancements at public safety answering points (PSAPs) across the state, in 14 grants. At the same briefing, Stein called on the state Utilities Commission to approve large load tariffs so data centers bear the cost of their own power use rather than shifting it to families.
The largest 911 awards include $1,927,216.91 for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Communications for radio console replacement, $4,110,916.90 for the NC State Highway Patrol to replace radio dispatch consoles and logging recorders, $1,255,628.73 for Wilson County Emergency Communications, $1,090,906.72 for Robeson E-911 Communications, $944,801.08 for Jones/Lenoir Communications, $748,093.90 for Bertie County Communications and $640,184.10 for Alexander County E-911 Communications. 'Every second matters when someone calls 911,' Stein said. 'These grants will give 911 operators the resources and technology they need to better connect North Carolinians with the help they need quickly.' NC Department of Information Technology Secretary and NC 911 Board Chair Nate Denny said investing in the tools 911 centers need reinforces the trust people place in 911. Over the past decade, the board's grant program has invested more than $104 million; the 911 Fund, financed by the uniform 911 service charge, supports 124 PSAPs employing nearly 3,000 telecommunicators.
On energy costs, Stein cited a report prepared with his bipartisan Energy Policy Task Force: data centers make up approximately 30% of new energy projects but 80% of projected future energy demand, and large loads will create $50 billion more in costs through 2050 in a business-as-usual scenario, with electricity rates potentially rising as much as 70% over 15 years. He called on the Utilities Commission to approve large load tariffs requiring data centers to cover their grid costs and bring their own clean energy. Attorney General Jeff Jackson said Duke Energy's proposed settlement is a real step in that direction but is not final.
Stein also highlighted domestic violence services during the briefing: the NC Department of Administration's Division for Women and Youth funds 76 domestic violence programs in 97 counties offering shelter, counseling, 24-hour crisis lines, transportation and court advocacy; more than 60,000 adults and children received services and more than 100,000 crisis calls and chats were received in fiscal year 2024-25.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 应急通信调度席位（资料图）。Marti Gatlin 摄，美国海军陆战队，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Emergency communications dispatch consoles (file photo). Photo by Marti Gatlin, U.S. Marine Corps, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
