SC county moves for data center moratorium even without formal plans to build

Chester County, South Carolina, is considering a six-month moratorium on data center development, with the measure having passed its second reading. This move comes as local officials, despite having no formal data center proposals, are responding to inquiries and aiming to proactively address potential impacts. The county council had previously approved zoning regulations to keep data centers away from residential neighborhoods.

Councilman John Agee highlighted constituent concerns, citing issues observed in neighboring York County where a "monstrosity" of a data center project is underway, prompting York County leaders to implement their own nine-month moratorium. Agee noted that Chester County's relatively cheap land makes it an attractive location for developers. He also expressed a need for more information regarding common concerns such as noise and water usage associated with data centers.

The proposed moratorium will allow officials to evaluate various concerns, including noise, water usage, and overall environmental and economic impacts. The measure still requires a third reading later this month. Workshops are planned to begin in August to further study these issues.