Anderson County council approves final reading of six-month data center moratorium
The Anderson County Council has approved a six-month moratorium on data center development, citing concerns over potential negative impacts on property owners and strain on public resources. The county lacks a regulatory framework to manage the industry's scale and impact, necessitating an independent study.
The Anderson County Council in South Carolina has enacted a six-month moratorium on data center development, following the third and final reading of an ordinance. County Administrator Rusty Burns confirmed the council's decision, which took place on Tuesday night.
The ordinance states that the unregulated expansion of multiple data centers could adversely affect nearby property owners and create significant demands on regulated utilities. It also warns that rapid growth in the data center industry could strain the county's critical public resources, including its electric power grid, water supply, and local infrastructure.
Anderson County currently lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework or specific zoning ordinances to effectively manage the scale and impact of data center operations. The moratorium aims to allow time for an independent study to be conducted, ensuring the protection of public health, safety, and welfare for the county's residents. The article also notes that neighboring Greenwood County has already approved a similar moratorium, and Spartanburg County is also considering one.