Mt. Pleasant Planning Commission recommends 120 day data center moratorium
The Mount Pleasant Planning Commission recommended a 120-day moratorium on data center development to allow officials to refine the town's definition of a data center. This proactive measure, taken amid resident concerns, requires approval from the Town Council before taking effect. There are currently no large-scale data center proposals before the council.
Officials in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, are considering new regulations for data centers after the topic has garnered attention nationwide. The Mount Pleasant Planning Commission convened to discuss various approaches to data center development, including a complete ban, a temporary moratorium, or special exceptions requiring Town Council approval. During the meeting, residents voiced concerns about potential data center projects in the area.
Following discussions and public comment, the commission voted to recommend a 120-day moratorium on data center development. Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie explained that the moratorium aims to prevent unintended consequences by distinguishing between large-scale data centers and smaller, less impactful operations, such as closet data centers used by banks or businesses. He emphasized that these smaller operations typically do not consume significant water or power or generate noise.
Town officials clarified that the proposed moratorium is a proactive measure, noting that no large-scale data center proposals are currently pending before the council. The Planning Commission's recommendation is not final and requires approval from the Town Council before it can be enacted.