New data center developments in South Carolina are shrouded in secrecy, residents say

A proposed 1,000-megawatt data center project in Colleton County, South Carolina has sparked broad opposition from local residents and environmental advocates. The development, led by Eagle Rock Partners, has been shrouded in secrecy, with limited information shared about the project's details and approval process. Similar patterns have played out in other parts of the state, including Marion and Spartanburg counties, where data center proposals by companies like Stream and TigerDC have also faced pushback from local communities. Residents have raised concerns about the water usage, power demands, and environmental impact of these large-scale data centers. The use of non-disclosure agreements by developers to shield project details has added to the frustration, leaving many residents in the dark about key information. State officials also acknowledge difficulties in tracking the proliferation of data centers across South Carolina and accounting for their resource usage. In response, state lawmakers have introduced a resolution to impose a temporary moratorium on data center development through 2027, as various regulatory proposals make their way through the legislature. The battle over these data centers highlights the tensions between economic development and environmental concerns in small, rural communities.