VIDEO: Colleton County farmers fear impact of data centers, other residents see future investment
Colleton County, South Carolina, has approved new rules for data center development within its digital infrastructure overlay district. This decision has divided residents, with farmers expressing fears about the impact on their land and water, while others view data centers as a vital economic lifeline for the county's future.
Colleton County, South Carolina, recently approved new rules governing data center development through its digital infrastructure overlay district, sparking a significant debate among local residents.
Farmers in the area, such as Ron Lee Mack, who cultivates a variety of crops, fear that data centers would ruin their livelihood by impacting their land, water, and traditional way of life. Concerns specifically focus on groundwater availability for irrigation, which they believe would be threatened by the demands of data centers.
Conversely, other residents view data center development as a crucial economic benefit and a financial lifeline for the county. They argue that the county is in dire need of revenue and that investing in a digital ecosystem is essential for future generations, preventing young people from having to leave for opportunities elsewhere.
As of the report, no permits have been submitted for data centers in the new overlay district, leaving the county divided between those who believe they have everything to gain from data center investment and those who fear they have everything to lose.