6-month pause on data center developments in Colleton County; lawsuit paused
Colleton County, South Carolina, has enacted a six-month moratorium on data center developments, pausing all land use approvals. This decision comes amidst an ongoing lawsuit filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center, which has now been paused in agreement with the county. The lawsuit challenged existing zoning changes for an 850-acre proposed data center complex, citing concerns about environmental impacts and non-conformance with the county's comprehensive plan.
Colleton County, South Carolina, has unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on all new data center developments. This pause prevents the consideration and issuance of special exceptions, conditional use approvals, and other land use permits for data centers in the county.
The decision comes as the county faces an ongoing lawsuit filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC). The lawsuit challenged the county's zoning changes, arguing they did not align with Colleton County's comprehensive plan. With the moratorium now in effect, the SELC has agreed to pause its legal action for the duration of the six-month period.
The initial lawsuit stemmed from a proposal to convert over 850 acres of rural land into a large data center complex, including nine facilities and two substations. Local residents and environmental organizations, including the Coastal Conservation League and the SELC, voiced significant concerns about the potential negative impacts on the ACE Basin and the overall quality of life in Colleton County.
Environmental groups are now urging the county to use this moratorium period to update its comprehensive plan and zoning code. They hope this will lead to the development of stronger policies that ensure any future data center developments are responsibly sited with minimal environmental and community impact.