Greenwood County Council considers data center moratorium and zoning changes
Greenwood County Council in South Carolina has scheduled a first reading for a 12-month data center moratorium ordinance, with a second reading set for July 7. This comes after the County/City Planning Commission denied a zoning text amendment and called for a 24-month moratorium. Meanwhile, a third reading of an ordinance allowing data centers is also scheduled, leading to concerns from opponents about swift approval before the moratorium can be enacted.
Greenwood County, South Carolina, is at the center of a contentious debate over data center development, with local officials grappling with proposed regulations and a potential moratorium. The Greenwood County Council has scheduled the first reading of an ordinance for a 12-month data center moratorium, with a second reading slated for July 7. Concurrently, a third reading of Ordinance 2026-19, which would establish conditions for data centers, is also on the docket, sparking concerns among opponents who fear the latter could be enacted swiftly, potentially preempting the moratorium.
This development follows the Greenwood City/County Joint Planning Commission's unanimous denial of a zoning text amendment that would have designated data centers as a conditional use. The commission subsequently recommended a 24-month moratorium. The article highlights a perceived lack of transparency, noting that County officials, some with prior ties to the Greenwood Partnership Alliance which marketed county properties for data centers, seemed to rush actions despite years of potential site marketing.
Adding to the complexity, Patriot Land Holdings SC, LLC, and SC Site Holdings, LLC, were incorporated in April, with Greenwood County Council approving a letter of intent with SC Site Holdings, LLC, for a potential property sale, and authorizing option agreements with Patriot Land Holdings SC, LLC, for over 270 acres previously marketed for data centers. Opponents, including State Representative John McCravy and the Southern Environmental Law Center, are advocating for the moratorium to be fully enacted first to allow for comprehensive due diligence on the health, environmental, and resource management impacts of data centers, particularly AI-driven facilities.