County imposes year-long moratorium on data center projects

The Laurens County Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve first reading of an ordinance that will place upon final approval a year-long moratorium on data center projects in the county.

While the moratorium is in place, staff is to work with council members to put regulations in place designed to set standards and guidelines for any future data center projects.

“This gives us the opportunity that we don’t have to deal with a data center for 12 months if that need arises,” said Council Vice-Chair Matthew Brownlee, adding that by approving the ordinance the county is being proactive as neighboring counties have suffered backlash from its residents after data center projects were announced.

Newberry and Greenwood counties have gotten push back from citizens who cited environmental and energy concerns. Greenwood County Council voted 4-3 earlier this month on a 12-month moratorium on data centers, while Newberry County rejected a land purchase agreement for “Project Altair,” a “medium-sized” data center project, and adopted a year-long moratorium following community backlash.

In Spartanburg County, a group of residents is suing the local government, which the residents said misrepresented a $2.8 billion data center project.

According to Laurens County Development Corporation President and CEO Jonathan Coleman, no data center projects are on the table for Laurens County, and it’s been almost two years since one has been proposed to the LCDC.

During the public comment portion of Monday night’s meeting, three residents of northern Laurens County spoke in favor of the moratorium.

“I’m not against data centers in general, but I am very concerned about what it would take to have a huge data center in our county,” said Gray Court resident John Parnell. “How can we best learn what’s going to happen if something like this were to come to our area? What is the impact on our county, our cities? Is our infrastructure anywhere near what is needed for the power, for the water, for the sewers?”

Councilman Brown Patterson said he was in favor of a moratorium, but also called it a “feel good” ordinance because there are no projects currently in the pipeline and it would take more than 12 months for any such projects to get underway, even if someone bought property for one tomorrow.

Patterson said Laurens County doesn’t currently have the electrical infrastructure to power a data center.

He said he would like to see staff move more quickly to put regulations governing data center projects so that any legislation can be passed more quickly.

“Why don’t we have an ordinance in front of us in 90 days instead of 18 months from now?” Patterson said. “If you want to do it, let’s do 36 (months). If you want more authority for when people would actually be applying and looking for approval from the county. . . . I want (the ordinance) to do what you want it to do.”