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Michael Whatley Accepted $27,000 from a Data Center Developer

Oct 02, 2026

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Michael Whatley has tried to undermine North Carolinians’ opposition to data centers. And now, we know why. Recent reporting from Cardinal & Pine reveals that Whatley took $27,000 in contributions from partners, executives, and investors affiliated with private equity firm KKR, which co-owns data center company CyrusOne. CyrusOne has a data center campus in Durham and is developing another campus in Lee County, despite over 2,800 Lee County residents signing a petition calling for a moratorium on data centers.

“Michael Whatley wants to welcome data centers into North Carolina because their developers are bankrolling his campaign,” said American Bridge 21st Century Spokesperson Gus Nathanson. “He doesn’t care that North Carolinians are opposed to data centers or that they’re jacking up electric bills across the state. His priority will always be the corporate interests that send him donation checks.”

Read more about Michael Whatley’s donations from data center developers:

  • Michael Whatley accepted $27,000 in contributions from partners, executives, and investors affiliated with private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), which co-owns data center company CyrusOne.
    • CyrusOne operates a data center campus in Durham and is building another campus in Lee County.
  • Over 2,800 Lee County residents signed a June petition calling for a moratorium on data centers.
    • Lee County farmers have voiced concerns about the effect that the data center development will have on their livelihoods:
      • One third-generation farmer said: “I’ve been down there for 47 years. […] I’m thinking about selling every damn thing I got because of y’all.”
      • Another farmer stated: “Sounds like a helicopter landing on your house. This is what’s going to happen to us in Lower Moncure.”
  • Whatley has also disclosed that his family holds investments in several companies involved in the data center industry, including Apple, Nvidia, Alphabet (Google), and Microsoft.
  • In an interview with Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, Whatley dismissed some of the grassroots opposition to data centers.
    • “You also got to remember that this opposition to data centers is not organic. This is being ginned up the same way that we saw opposition to energy projects around the country,” Whatley said.
  • Spectrum News reported that Whatley said he supports tax breaks for data centers.

Published: Oct 2, 2026

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