Nancy Mace calls for 1 year moratorium on new SC Data Centers
Congresswoman Nancy Mace has called for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in South Carolina. She argues that data centers are driving up energy demand and electricity bills for families and small businesses. The proposed moratorium would allow time to establish policies requiring data centers to cover their full energy and grid upgrade costs.
Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) announced on May 18, 2026, a call for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in South Carolina. She stated that "Big Tech" companies are establishing large data centers across the state, which significantly increases energy demands and consequently raises electricity costs for residents and small businesses.
Mace emphasized that South Carolina families are already facing financial strain and should not be burdened with higher utility bills to subsidize the energy consumption of tech companies. She believes the state has become a major destination for data centers, leading to surging energy demands, expensive grid upgrades, and pressure on utility companies to pass these costs onto ratepayers.
The proposed one-year pause would allow state lawmakers to develop and implement new regulations. These regulations would aim to ensure that any future data centers are required to fully cover the costs of the energy they consume and any necessary grid upgrades their operations demand, preventing South Carolinians from bearing these expenses. Mace also cited concerns about eminent domain issues, referencing situations in Georgia.