After passing moratorium, Colleton County quickly advances data center zoning changes
Colleton County, SC, has advanced new zoning ordinances for data centers and battery energy storage systems, following the enactment of a six-month moratorium in July. This move has drawn criticism from residents and environmental groups, who argue that the new policies do not adequately protect the local environment and are being crafted to accommodate specific development proposals. A previous 1,000-megawatt data center proposal by Eagle Rock Partners faced significant opposition, and two residents have filed a lawsuit against the county over prior zoning changes.
Colleton County, South Carolina, has swiftly advanced new zoning ordinances for data centers and battery energy storage systems, just over a month after a six-month moratorium on data center development took effect on July 6. At a special county council meeting on August 10, the council unanimously approved the first reading of new ordinances that will amend the county's comprehensive plan to include digital infrastructure facilities and create a "digital infrastructure overlay district," allowing data centers as conditional uses in industrial and certain rural areas.
The rapid progression of these ordinances, which still require two more council votes and public comment, surprised residents and policy advocates like Robby Maynor of the Southern Environmental Law Center. Maynor expressed concern that the moratorium, intended for research and community engagement, has instead led to quick policy changes that may accommodate specific proposals rather than taking a comprehensive look at data center placement and environmental protection. Environmental groups are particularly worried about the impact on the ACE Basin, a significant conservation area, as the ordinance's definition of the basin is vague.
The new rules, which county lawyer C.D. Rhodes described as