Advocate addresses proposed legislation on data center growth in SC

Lawmakers in South Carolina are actively considering multiple bills aimed at regulating the burgeoning data center industry within the state. The legislative push comes as advocates express concerns over the rapid growth's impact on water and energy resources and the potential for increased utility costs for regular consumers. John Brooker of Conservation Voters of South Carolina is working with lawmakers to draft new requirements, emphasizing the need for transparency, water and energy efficiency standards, and mechanisms to ensure data centers pay their equitable share for power grid infrastructure upgrades. Brooker highlights widespread constituent concerns regarding rising electric bills and the siting of specific data centers, advocating for "guardrails" to be put in place. The proposed legislation includes stricter rules on where data centers can be built, mandates for public reporting of water and energy usage, and contracts to ensure fair contributions to grid improvements. Sources indicate that at least one of these bills is expected to advance to the South Carolina Senate floor in the coming week, having garnered bipartisan support, though its reception in the House remains uncertain. Representatives for the data center industry declined to comment by the publication's deadline, though a developer's attorney in York County reportedly expressed willingness to comply with sound and water protection guidelines.