Colleton County approves controversial data center rules despite pushback

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) —  County Council voted unanimously to approve a controversial zoning change that opens the door to data centers across much of the county’s rural land, through a new Digital Infrastructure Overlay District.   

Dozens of concerned residents were speaking out against this new overlay, ahead of the meeting with signs and over 5,000 signatures.

“It’s just a shame that they’re not listening to the people,” Shawn Bennett, a local resident, said.  

" It’s just flat out wrong."    Cyndi Colson – Concerned Resident said.  

The council passed a six-month moratorium on data centers back in July. But that moratorium is now partially repealed and no longer applies west of Interstate 95, or in areas already zoned industrial with this overlay.   

The Moratorium shall be repealed with respect to (i) areas of the County west of Interstate 95; and (il) areas of the County that, as of the effective date hereof, are zoned Light Industrial (LID), Industrial (ID), and Heavy Industrial (HID) 

" I raise honey bees. I’m a little 20-acre farmer there right next to it. I worry about the noise. I moved out there because it was zoned agricultural and it was all timberland."  Timothy McLaughlin, local resident on Mount Carmel Road, said.  

The new overlay does set limits: a 65-decibel noise cap and 200-foot buffer setbacks.  

“They use an exorbitant amount of power. That cost can be passed on to ratepayers potentially. It can often result in a proliferation of gas plants and gas pipelines, which we are seeing happening across the state and that has public health concerns. There are certainly emissions that can be associated with the backup generators from data centers.”  Grant McClure, South Coast office director with the Coastal Conservation League said.  

It also requires data centers to use closed-loop water or air-cooled cooling systems.   

“If the water’s poisoned or gone, you know, what’s my grandkids going to enjoy? A screen? No. I don’t I don’t want them to see the Ace Basin through pictures. I want them to see it as it actually is, as beautiful and as pristine as it is.”  Cyndi Colson – Concerned Resident said.  

Concerned residents say data centers in the county will change their way of life.    

“If you can’t have clean water or clean air or peace of mind, life ain’t hardly worth living, I don’t imagine,” Paul “Brain” Smith, a concerned resident, said. 

Developments under the overlay would also need at least 300 acres of land to be approved.   

“Once you build it and take it, that land’s no good for anything else anymore. It’s gone and it’s gone forever. What kind of community do we want to be?” McLaughlin said.  

While stricter rules are now in place for the Development of Digital Infrastructure Facilities, like data centers, many residents feel like their concerns fell on deaf ears.    

“Listen to us. We’re talking and you’re not listening.”  Lillie Vaughn, a lifelong resident, said. “All of this is worth protecting, not just for ourselves, but for our grandchildren, for our great-grandchildren, to enjoy the same way of life we have enjoyed for all these years.” 

Dozens of concerned residents weren’t able to get into the meeting because of capacity limitations. Others who signed up to speak didn’t get the chance due to the timing of the public hearing.