South Carolina lawmakers prepare statewide data center regulations as Greenwood County imposes moratorium
South Carolina lawmakers John McCravy and Daniel Gibson are preparing legislation that would impose statewide requirements on new data centers, including limits on water use, electricity costs, noise and proximity to homes and other protected properties. Greenwood County has separately approved a one-year moratorium and zoning changes that effectively prohibit data centers while it studies the issue.
South Carolina state Reps. John McCravy and Daniel Gibson are preparing the South Carolina Data Center Community Protection Act for the 2027 legislative session. The proposal would require new data centers and major expansions to receive approval from the state environmental agency, the Public Service Commission and local governments, with public hearings, recorded votes and suitability for heavy industrial zoning.
The draft would require closed-loop cooling, new electricity generation or financing sufficient to serve each facility, and payment of grid-connection and backup-service costs. It also proposes separation distances from homes and other protected properties, noise limits, financial guarantees for site cleanup and public notice requirements. The legislation has not yet been formally introduced or approved.
In Greenwood County, officials are examining the issue through an ad hoc committee. County Council approved a one-year moratorium on data center development and amended its zoning ordinance to exclude data centers from all zoning districts, effectively prohibiting new projects while local officials consider longer-term rules.