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South Carolina Data Centers Face Local Resistance
Coverage from WSPA 7News, WCIV, and others
Articles
9
Active Days
67
The Topic
South Carolina is encouraging large data center projects through site-readiness funding and economic development incentives, while residents, counties, and some elected officials seek pauses or stricter oversight. Proposed and active projects in Spartanburg, Colleton, Aiken, Berkeley, Dorchester, Gaffney, and Rock Hill have brought concerns about electricity demand, water use, noise, land use, emissions, and limited permanent employment. At least nine counties have proposed or enacted temporary moratoriums as officials develop local rules, while manufacturers such as EPC Power are expanding in the state to supply grid and data center power equipment.
First Article: 05/20/26
Latest Article: 07/25/26
Summary
- State site-readiness funding reportedly rose to $80 million in 2026, with 51 certified development-ready sites listed in June.
- At least nine counties have proposed or enacted temporary moratoriums while studying siting standards and local regulations.
- Residents in Spartanburg and Colleton counties have challenged large projects over electricity demand, water use, noise, environmental effects, traffic, and land use.
- Major projects include Meta's 715,000-square-foot Aiken County facility, Google's Berkeley and Dorchester County projects, and campuses near Gaffney, Spartanburg, and Rock Hill.
- South Carolina has no statewide data center rules or centralized inventory, leaving project information fragmented across county records and public reporting.
- EPC Power opened a Fountain Inn manufacturing facility expected to create 275 jobs and add 27 gigawatts of annual inverter capacity for grid, storage, and AI data center uses.
- Statewide regulatory proposals and a broader moratorium have not advanced, while local approval and litigation remain active in some counties.
History
The story now includes a clearer, more specific map of where the biggest projects are and adds evidence that South Carolina's data center buildout is being paired with related industrial expansion. The regulatory picture is still fragmented, but the current version emphasizes local rulemaking and active litigation more than the prior one.
The story has broadened from a mostly legislative debate into a fuller statewide development picture: South Carolina is now actively attracting major data center investment even as counties impose moratoriums and legal challenges multiply. The new version also adds concrete project examples, state incentives, and related industrial activity tied to the sector.
Featured
Timeline: 67 Days
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