Beaufort County approves one-year moratorium on data center developments
The Beaufort County Board of Commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on data center developments in a 6-1 vote. The pause will prevent the county from accepting or approving applications while officials study electricity use, cooling-system noise and other infrastructure impacts, with the goal of developing permanent zoning rules.
The Beaufort County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 to impose a one-year moratorium on data center development. The freeze stops the county from accepting, processing or approving applications and permits for the facilities during the study period.
Commissioners said they will examine the regional effects of data centers, including heavy electricity consumption and noise from cooling systems, before drafting a permanent zoning ordinance. The action followed a public hearing where residents raised concerns about infrastructure impacts. Commissioner Hood Richardson cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing the moratorium could forgo economic benefits and saying a single data center might reduce homeowners' property taxes by 10%.