Beaufort Co. leaders advance proposed two-year pause on data center applications

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - Beaufort County leaders are considering a two-year pause on certain data center applications and approvals as they study the potential impact of the facilities and consider regulations.

County Council advanced the proposal Monday night, but it must pass two more votes at upcoming council meetings before the moratorium becomes official.

County staff initially recommended a nine-month pause.

Council member Logan Cunningham instead proposed 24 months, saying the longer period would give staff more time to develop regulations as new council members prepare to take office.

“That gives staff no rush to make sure that we can make regulations, as well as give state and federal governments enough time to create some regulations,” Cunningham said.

The proposed moratorium would pause the acceptance, processing, approval, or issuance of certain applications, permits and approvals related to data centers.

County leaders said the time would allow them to examine how a data center could affect residents, infrastructure, water supplies and power.

“All those things need to be answered,” Council member Mark Lawson said.

Data center development has become a topic of discussion in communities across Southeast Georgia and South Carolina, including rural areas weighing whether their infrastructure can support the facilities and whether they would benefit residents.

After the proposed pause, the council would need to decide how to proceed. Options discussed include an outright ban or changes to zoning rules intended to address potential impacts before the county accepts a data center proposal.

“We have enough issues in Beaufort County and the Lowcountry is not the place for a data center,” Cunningham said.