South Carolina Candidates Debate Proposed Data Center Moratorium and Regulation
South Carolina gubernatorial candidates Jermaine Johnson and Alan Wilson debated how the state should regulate data center development. Johnson supports a moratorium to give communities and lawmakers time to establish protections, while Wilson favors local control and requirements for data centers to generate their own energy and mitigate noise, light and pollution.
During a South Carolina gubernatorial debate, Jermaine Johnson argued that data centers are being built without sufficient community involvement and cited a Spartanburg-area project where projected water usage reportedly doubled. He said he introduced a joint resolution calling for a moratorium on data center construction so the General Assembly could establish safeguards and ensure communities are not forced to accept unwanted projects.
Alan Wilson opposed a statewide moratorium, saying it would remove the option for communities that want data centers and their economic benefits. Wilson called for local decision-making combined with state guardrails, including requirements for on-site energy generation, mitigation of noise, light and pollution, and potential contributions to the power grid and local property-tax bases. Johnson reiterated that data centers should bring their own energy and operate on a net-zero basis for South Carolina communities.