Drox Group Data Center, Rural Hall, North Carolina

The Drox Group asked Forsyth County, North Carolina to rezone 129 acres across from Rural Hall Town Hall for a data center campus called Project Iron Spur. On July 30, 2026, county commissioners voted 5 to 2 to deny the rezoning, following a planning board recommendation to deny it on June 11. Only commissioners Don Martin and Gloria Whisenhunt voted in favor.

The refusal came after six months, more than 400 emails and dozens of speakers. Company representative Michael Foess said the buildings would keep noise below 60 decibels and use less water, and that plans had been revised after meeting with neighbors to lower one building and add a public recreation area. He said the county would gain nearly $80 million in tax over ten years.

Planning board member Lindsey Schwab said the proposal conflicted with the county's land-use plan: "I don't question the economic impact that this project would bring a $3 billion investment and millions and millions of dollars into the coffers of Forsyth County, which we desperately need ... However, I question the cost of that today." Commissioner Gray Wilson said: "I don't know that we make the decision that this is something that they ought to have and we just cram it down everybody's throat."

Commissioners said they were not against data centers but needed to decide where such sites would be most appropriate. The July 30 vote was the final decision on the rezoning.