One year pause: Data center one year moratorium passes after weeks of public pressure

Greenwood County Council in South Carolina has enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development, following a contentious 4-3 vote. The decision, made before an audience of approximately 200 residents, temporarily halts the approval of new data centers and related infrastructure in the county. Council members Robbie Templeton, Cathy Miller, Mark Allison, and Dayne Pruitt voted in favor of the measure, Ordinance 2026-25, which takes effect immediately and will last for 12 months.

The moratorium was a direct result of significant public pressure from groups such as Greenwood County Residents for Responsible Growth, whose spokesperson Tina Escalona highlighted public confusion and anxiety, urging for more open dialogue. Residents like Aaron Kahn and Debbie Turner vocally opposed data center development, with some pushing for a permanent prohibition. Engineer Doug Farrell raised specific concerns about job creation, electricity, water, and land use, advising the council to establish detailed regulations before negotiating with any companies.

Conversely, council members Theo Lane, Teresa Griffin, and Johanna Bishop opposed the moratorium, with Lane citing concerns about potential economic consequences and missed benefits. Jay Self, President of Greenwood Mills, also argued against the pause, emphasizing the economic opportunities, tax revenue, and potential electrical grid upgrades that data centers could bring. Despite the division, council members expressed intentions to use the moratorium period for research, public discussions, and to address residents' questions, with Allison also hoping for consistent state-level regulation of data centers.