No new data centers in Newberry County after unanimous confirmation
The Newberry County Council unanimously confirmed a 12-month moratorium on new data center permits following public opposition. Residents expressed concerns over strain on water supply, increased electric rates, and industrial noise. This decision comes after the council previously denied an ordinance for a potential data center development.
The Newberry County Council in South Carolina has unanimously enacted a 12-month moratorium on accepting new permits for data centers, a decision confirmed on Wednesday night. According to the Newberry clerk, the council retains the option to extend this moratorium.
This confirmation follows a unanimous vote by the council in June to deny an ordinance that would have permitted a developer to acquire land for a prospective data center. That denial, which reversed earlier readings of the ordinance, came after a highly attended public hearing where local residents voiced significant concerns.
Opposition centered on potential strains on the local water supply, a surge in electricity rates, and the impact of continuous industrial noise on the community.