Laurens County blocks new data center development for one year
The Laurens County Council in South Carolina has enacted a one-year moratorium on new data center development in its unincorporated areas. This decision, passed unanimously in its final reading, allows the county to develop regulations and evaluate potential impacts of data centers on public health and infrastructure. The moratorium does not apply to incorporated cities within the county.
The Laurens County Council in South Carolina unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on new data center development within the county's unincorporated areas. The vote, which was the third and final reading of the ordinance, passed 6-0.
Vice Chairman Matthew Brownlee, who sponsored the moratorium, stated that the county requires additional time to assess the potential effects of data centers on public health and to formulate specific regulations concerning their placement and construction. During the council meeting, residents shared varying perspectives. Barbara Mordue advocated for future data center developers to bear the full cost of any necessary infrastructure, emphasizing no taxpayer money should be used. Conversely, Cecil Brown argued against the moratorium, suggesting that concerns regarding data centers could be mitigated by strategically locating them away from residential areas.
The moratorium is limited to areas under county jurisdiction, specifically unincorporated Laurens County, and does not extend to incorporated municipalities such as the city of Laurens or the city of Clinton. According to county council minutes, this pause is intended to provide planning staff with the opportunity to evaluate potential regulations and designate suitable areas for data centers on the county's existing land-use map. The moratorium will remain in effect for one year unless the council votes to extend it.