Mount Pleasant Planning Committee Recommends 120-Day Data Center Moratorium
Mount Pleasant's Planning Committee has recommended a 120-day moratorium on data center developments to allow for a comprehensive review of their environmental and utility impacts. This action comes amid concerns from Mount Pleasant Waterworks regarding potential strains on the town's water and power grids. The proposed moratorium will now proceed to the Mount Pleasant Town Council for a vote.
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, is considering a 120-day moratorium on data center developments due to concerns over their potential impact on local water and power resources. The town's Planning Committee voted to advance the temporary ban on August 31, recommending it to the Mount Pleasant Town Council for two readings, with the first scheduled for September 8. This pre-emptive measure allows officials to strengthen zoning regulations and require environmental and utility impact reports for such developments.
Although no data center developers are currently pursuing projects in Mount Pleasant, existing zoning codes allow these facilities "by right" in certain industrial and business zones without public hearings. Mount Pleasant Waterworks representatives highlighted the risks data centers pose, including increased energy costs for water production and potential restrictions on the town's water allocation, citing a past instance where Google's Berkeley County data center led to a reduction in the town's access to the Charleston Aquifer.
Chris Martin, operational technology department head for MPW, described data centers as "power-hungry systems" that could financially strain the water utility. MPW General Manager Allan Clum emphasized that while Google's use of the aquifer for emergency backup didn't immediately impact Mount Pleasant Waterworks customers, it restricted the utility's future growth. The utility is now exploring microgrids and a new deep water well to ensure future reliability and supply.