South Carolina Rep. Mace backs freeze on creation of new data centers in home state
South Carolina GOP Rep. Nancy Mace has called for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in her home state. She argues this pause would allow the state to establish proper regulations, ensuring data centers cover their costs and do not lead to issues like eminent domain. The call comes amidst community concerns over data centers' high electricity and water consumption, land use, and tax incentives.
U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican representing South Carolina, has advocated for a one-year moratorium on the development of new data centers within her home state. The proposal aims to provide South Carolina with an opportunity to establish appropriate regulations and policies concerning data center operations.
Mace emphasized that the rules following the moratorium should ensure data centers are financially self-sufficient, stating, "data centers pay their own way or they do not come here." She also expressed concern about potential eminent domain issues, referencing situations in other states like Georgia. This stance reflects growing backlash from local communities across the U.S. regarding the impacts of data center construction.
Community concerns highlighted by Mace include the significant electricity and water demands of data centers, their extensive land use, and the provision of tax incentives. The representative believes a temporary freeze would allow South Carolina to "get this right" before further expansion of the industry.