Colleton County Council approves first reading for data center moratorium

The Colleton County Council has voted to approve the first reading of a proposed ordinance that would implement a moratorium on data center developments within the county. This measure specifically targets special exceptions and conditional use approvals required for data centers, potentially leading to a temporary or permanent cessation of new data center construction. The council's decision follows significant public outcry and opposition from hundreds of citizens regarding a planned 800-plus acre data center project near Walterboro. Public meetings held to discuss the proposals saw widespread attendance and vocal disapproval from residents. Citizens expressed concerns about potential impacts and a desire for local control over such developments. While this initial approval is a step towards enacting the moratorium, it means the ordinance is currently in the proposal phase. The move by Colleton County aligns with a broader trend, as the transcript notes that at least 12 states and 100 local governments have already adopted similar ordinances to restrict data center growth.