Greenwood County Considers Data Center Committee After Adopting Moratorium and Ordinance
Greenwood County Council Chairman Theo Lane proposed forming an ad hoc committee to address future data center matters, following the county's July adoption of a data center ordinance and a one-year moratorium. The county's ordinance has been recognized statewide as a model for other South Carolina counties. The proposed committee would include residents from each district to objectively evaluate proposals and aid public education.
During a recent meeting, Greenwood County Council Chairman Theo Lane suggested the formation of an ad hoc committee to manage future data center-related issues. The proposal follows the county's actions in July, when it adopted new zoning standards for data centers and enacted a one-year moratorium on new data center development. Chairman Lane noted that Greenwood County's recently approved data center ordinance has been cited as a model for other counties across South Carolina, with representatives from three counties already contacting Greenwood for information on its approach.
Lane indicated that the proposed committee should comprise at least one resident from each county council district. He emphasized that members should be chosen for their ability to objectively evaluate proposals rather than based on their support or opposition to data centers. Additionally, Lane recommended that the county undertake a "much more robust" public education campaign regarding data centers. The suggestion for the committee was not on Tuesday's agenda, and no immediate vote or motion was requested from council members, with Lane asking them to consider it for a future meeting.