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Data centers in Cherokee County, North Carolina: 2 projects mapped
Core Scientific has turned its crypto mine in Marble, a former American Thread plant of about 250,000 square feet on Palmer Lane, into an AI data center with 117 megawatts of power capacity. The county has no zoning, so the change needed only permits. It is one of three crypto mines that opened in Cherokee County from 2021, and the county has no moratorium in place.
The site plan filed in 2025 included more than 170 diesel generators, according to county commissioners and records obtained by Commissioner Ben Adams. Most of its water comes from three wells on site, with some from the Marble Community Water System, and Andrews turned down a wastewater hookup. "I wouldn't wish this on any county or entity ever," said Andrews Mayor James Reid. "It's absolutely destroyed Marble." The county collected $268,000 in taxes from the site in 2024, its last full year as a crypto mine, and is having the data center equipment appraised.
Near Murphy, Rebecca and Tom Lash have lived with a crypto mine's hum since 2021. "There was nothing in this little pasture but these electric lines," Rebecca Lash said. "And it was just nice and quiet." In January 2026 Adams asked fellow commissioners to renew the county's lapsed crypto mining moratorium and add AI data centers: "we were kind of snookered into this AI." Others feared a costly legal fight with the federal government, and Adams, who is not running again, has since asked the planning board to draft limits.
Data center projects on record in Cherokee County
Grouped by the town each site sits in. The report above may name projects that have no record here yet.
Marble2
| Project | Company | Status | Power | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Scientific Marble NCMarble | Core Scientific | 117 MW | ||
| Core Scientific Marble 1Marble | Core Scientific | Not reported |
Where this comes from
The reporting above was written from these. Open one and check it yourself.
Every project above is drawn from public records, filings and local reporting. Each row links to what it is based on. Statuses change, so check the source date before you rely on one. Found something wrong? Write to [email protected] and it gets fixed.