Greenwood County Council advances one-year moratorium on data centers in 4-3 vote
Greenwood County Council in South Carolina voted 4-3 to advance a one-year moratorium on new data center approvals, following hours of public comment. This decision, which marks the second of three required readings, also saw the rejection of a separate ordinance that would have allowed data centers in specific county areas. The moratorium could halt negotiations with three unnamed companies that approached the county with offers.
The Greenwood County Council in South Carolina has voted 4-3 to advance a one-year moratorium on new data center approvals, which would block all such developments for 12 months. This vote, which took place after hours of public comment at a crowded meeting, constitutes the second of three readings required for the moratorium to become effective.
In a related action, the council also rejected a separate ordinance that aimed to permit data centers in designated areas within the county. Council members clarified that while they are not currently negotiating with any data center companies, three unnamed firms had previously approached the county with offers estimated to bring in $30 million to $40 million annually; Tuesday's vote is expected to put these discussions on hold.
Community members, state leaders, and environmental activists were present at the meeting, with dozens of public speakers voicing their opposition to data centers. Concerns included the potential exploitation of Greenwood County and the need for more time to understand the consequences of such developments. The proposed one-year moratorium is now scheduled for its third and final reading in two weeks.