Chester residents protest data center development as county considers moratorium
Residents in Chester, South Carolina, protested against potential data center developments as the Chester County Council considers a six-month moratorium. The protest highlighted concerns about noise, air, and water pollution, as well as increased power bills. The county council will hold a third reading and public hearing on the proposed moratorium.
Residents in Chester, South Carolina, participated in the AI Data Center National Day of Protest, organizing a local demonstration against data center development. Brittney Barnette, a 10-year resident, organized the event, expressing a desire to be proactive before development fully begins in Chester County. She was joined by her family and other residents like Gaye Jones, a retired nurse, who voiced concerns about air and water pollution, noise, and potential increases in power bills.
The protest took place as the Chester County Council is considering a six-month data center moratorium, having already approved its first reading in June. The moratorium's third reading and public hearing are scheduled for Monday, after which community workshops would be held in August to discuss environmental and economic impacts. While no data centers are currently planned or under construction in Chester County, leaders have received inquiries from developers, prompting residents' pre-emptive action. Jones cited a lawsuit filed against Valara Holdings in Spartanburg County as an example of potential issues if transparency is bypassed in Chester, fearing that developers might exploit rural, lower socioeconomic counties.