Beaufort Co. planning commission recommends a temporary moratorium on data centers

by Aaron Dixon

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - Beaufort County leaders are moving forward with a temporary moratorium on data centers.

The county’s planning commission voted to send the proposed ordinance to the county council.

They also asked council to consider extending the pause from nine months to 12 months.

If passed, it would pause acceptance, processing, approval, or issuance of certain applications, permits, and approvals for data centers in the county.

County leaders say the moratorium will give them time to define what a data center is and look at the potential impacts one could bring to the county.

Several residents spoke during the public comment period, and they were all against the idea of data centers in Beaufort County.

They also questioned where one would go.

For the moratorium to pass, it will need to go through three different votes and a public hearing.