Data centers near the South Carolina Lowcountry - What to know
Colleton County, South Carolina, approved a six-month moratorium on data center approvals while it reviews land-use rules, following opposition and a pending lawsuit from landowners. The article also covers OpenAI's proposed Project Camellia in Effingham County, Georgia, and a potential Amentum-led data center and power project at the Savannah River Site.
Colleton County Council approved a six-month moratorium on data center approvals and development after residents and environmental groups raised concerns about a proposed 800-acre facility. The pause is intended to give county officials and the Planning Commission time to review zoning rules and identify where data centers could be allowed. A pending lawsuit by two landowners and a petition organized by the Coastal Conservation League have added to the opposition.
The article also details major projects elsewhere in the region. OpenAI is planning Project Camellia, a 3.2-gigawatt data center campus in Rincon, Georgia, with four buildings, roughly $20 billion in planned investment and an expected 2028 start. At the Savannah River Site, the U.S. Department of Energy selected Amentum for negotiations over a potential 1-gigawatt data center paired with up to 2 gigawatts of onsite generation, though no final lease has been awarded. The story notes concerns about electricity, water consumption, environmental impacts and public participation, while developers and officials cite jobs, tax revenue and infrastructure commitments.