No Laurens County data-center permits for 12 months
President Trump said "Radical Left Dumocrats" don't like the massive, energy-hungry, fresh-water-thirsty campuses
A rendering of the $800 million data center under construction in Aiken County by Facebook parent company Meta. (Provided by Meta)
Posted Friday, July 24, 2026 1:00 am
Vic MacDonald - Editor
Laurens County planners will be charged within the next 12 months to find a land-use planning district where Data Centers can be permitted.
The moratorium was approved without opposition at the County Council's July 13 meeting, upon introduction by Council Vice-chairman Matthew Brownlee. He called it a "pro-active" measure, rather than being re-active after a massive, energy-hungry data-collections center is proposed for Laurens County.
Council Member Brown Patterson called it a "feel good" measure, since there is no active Data Center proposal for the county, and the last one submitted was 18 months ago.
The Clinton Chronicle
Patterson said he knew about that proposal through his position on the Laurens County Development Corporation board. “We don’t have the electrical infrastructure” to support a Data Center, Patterson said. “Water, no problem, we don’t have the electrical.”
He suggested having the County planning staff draft Data Center regulations in 30 days, and submit them to Council. “If they (data center developers) know this is going to expire in 12 months, they are going to do what they do now. Let’s get (staff) working now on an ordinance INSTEAD of looking for a review in 6 months which would be April,” he said.
A government cannot out-right ban any business - even controversial businesses like sex shops and vape shops have to have a place in zoning and/or land-use. But governments can place restrictions through land-use (Laurens County does not have zoning) and other regulations.
That was one of Patterson’s objections, also - he said the ordinance passed on 1st reading refers, several times, to “zoning” and to the fact that there is “substantial interest” in placing a Data Center in Laurens County. The “best-case” to having a Data Center up and running would be 36 months, he said.
Data Centers are a nationwide - indeed, a worldwide - controversy. Small Data Centers have been a success in Virginia which has 639 centers, most of them in Loudoun County. But now, following the economics of scale, mega-data centers are running into opposition — Project Tango, a $2.6 Billion project on 200 acres in Loxahatchee, Florida, has been turned down by the Palm Beach County Commission.
However, it can be re-designed and re-submitted.
That action might be why part-time Florida resident President Donald J. Trump has issued a social media statement telling people not to be panicans about Data Centers.
A Data Center near the zoo in Nashville has run into celebrity singers’ opposition.
But that doesn’t mean Data Centers don’t have their allies. Meta’s massive Hyperion Data Center in rural Louisiana’s Richland Parish, a $50 Billion project, benefits from state tax breaks.
New York Governor Kathy Houchul, by executive order, has imposed a 12-month moratorium.
It’s the first state to have a moratorium.
A Texas lawmaker is supporting a moratorium there, and an Indianapolis council committee has recommended a moratorium.
The international aspect comes in because Data Centers need to keep their computers cool and one way is by using cold water. Norway, Finland, and Iceland have emerged as the most likely destinations with the coldest water and the most abundant hydro-electric (rather than fossil fuels) cooling systems.
In Laurens County, the debate over Data Centers includes remarks, during public comments on agenda items time, by Northern Laurens County activist Nancy Garrison, who submitted 6 questions that she said any developer of any Data Center should be required to answer. Garrison will take a seat on the Laurens County Council in January, in place of Kemp Younts for the northern area / Fountain Inn district.
She said this issue is why she was asking questions at the last meeting about an industry proposed for the Hunter Industrial Park in Laurens. “I was concerned that it could be Data Centers. Laurens County has no ordinance addressing these unique facilities or the challenges they represent. Now, we have a chance to put clear rules in place,” she said.
Other issues raised by speakers included higher costs - on top of a property tax increase passed along last month by the County - and the notifications process in case a developer does propose a Data Center. Speakers wondered “are we ready” for the higher energy and water demands of the data-collection centers, such as those proposed throughout the nation - and state. Data Center proposals have caused public engagement in Spartanburg, Greenwood, Newberry, and Colleton counties (the Colleton/Walterboro proposal involves the massive ACE Basin aquifer).
The United States Senate was given a moratorium measure in March, and the South Carolina General Assembly had one filed in February; however, neither has received action. At least 14 states and 100 communities have moratoriums under consideration or approval.
The temporary Laurens County moratorium is for the acceptance, review, approval, and issuing of development permits for Data Centers.
Brownlee said it gives the County time to evaluate requirements, provides for a review after 6 months, and expires unless it is renewed by council by resolution.
The proposed ordinance (it requires two more readings and a public hearing) says, in part:
“For a period of twelve (12) months from the effective date of this Ordinance, the County shall not accept, process, review, approve, or issue:
1.Rezoning applications principally intended to facilitate a data center;
2.Conditional use, special exception, or special use applications for a data center;
3.Land development permits for a data center;
4.Building permits for a new data center facility;
5.Site plan approvals for a data center;
6.Any other discretionary development approval required for a data center. …
“During the moratorium period, County staff, the Planning Commission, and County Council shall evaluate and develop recommendations concerning:
1.Appropriate zoning districts;
2.Setback requirements;
3.Buffering and landscaping standards;
4.Noise standards;
- Water and wastewater requirements;
6.Electrical infrastructure requirements;
7.Emergency services coordination;
8.Environmental impacts;
9.Traffic impacts; and
10.Decommissioning requirements.”
More from the Laurens County Council:
What people are concerned about, June 22 quarterly input session (from minutes)
Jonathan Dickerson voiced his concerns with the increase in taxes and the services provided to the county.
Nick Lyons brought forward his issues pertaining to reassessment and inquiry of how the assessment numbers were determined.
Assessor GW Dailey approached the podium to advise of the MASS Assessment method that began in September of 2023, the 15% cap for taxable increase and explained the appeal process, if one feels like their reassessment is wrong.
Jeff Shockley inquired about those whose property was not assessed, if they could keep their current taxes until someone comes out to assess the property.
It was reiterated that each person’s property was reassessed, through Mass Assessment and are unable to know when someone loses a building unless the Assessor’s Office is notified.
Katie Shockley inquired about the method of reassessment.
Timothy Cogdill asked if comparable sales were brought in, if it would change the reassessment value.
Ashley Riddle spoke his concerns regarding a subdivision that plans to be named “Riddle Farms” and the conflict that it has with his business and name. He stated that he believes the issue resides with the county for allowing them to use that name. It was rebutted that the county’s only duty and research is to make sure the planned subdivision name is not one that is currently constructed; outside of that would be an issue between the complainant and the developer.
Jimmy Canfield expressed his concerns pertaining to the road conditions, especially in Waterloo and Cross Hill; stating that the road in front of his property becomes impassable when it rains.
Nancy Garrison brought worries of the strain that the growth coming puts on Laurens County’s roads and emergency services.
Angel Bible was accompanied by Allen Lawson with a request for the South Carolina Empowerment Center to be placed on the next agenda to be the primary subrecipient of the county’s SCORF funds.
Joseph Kohler brought forward concerns regarding the last Planning Commission meeting.
Lee Cunningham suggested imposing a structured tax fee for those that are moving to Laurens County from elsewhere. It was conveyed that there is no legal mechanism to do that.
Kay Roland with concerns regarding the rumor of data centers coming to Laurens County.
Chris Grant expressed his issues with how funds were being used by Laurens County.
Nick Babb articulated his feelings as to why County Council is in the predicament they are in now.
Frank Sprouse expressed his concerns with taxation.
A new resident of Laurens by the name of Allison spoke on her reasoning for moving to Laurens and expressed she was for impact fees. She also brought up that it has been rumored that Laurens County was scammed out of a sizable amount of money, adding that if that was the reasoning behind raising taxes, then it should be said. County Attorney Meetze communicated that due to it being an ongoing investigation, he is limited to what he can say, however, Mr. Meetze went on to voice that no taxpayer of Laurens County is going to pay a dime for any money that was misappropriated because the county was taken advantage of by an online scammer. He continued to add that a large portion of the funds have already been recovered, certain portions are still being recovered and there is insurance coverage to replace anything that is not recovered by the outside law firms.
Shannon Wilson expressed her concerns of the impact of these subdivisions have on the roads.
Data Centers have Presidential Support
President Donald J. Trump, July 15, on his social media platform Truth Social:
“One of the biggest Driving Forces in the Future for Jobs, are Data Centers. They are big, strong, bold, and Money Machines for the State in which they are built. Governor Kathy Hochul, for political reasons, has terminated all Data Centers being built, or to be built, in New York State. These Companies are now being sought in Alabama, Florida, Texas, Arizona, and many other States. Both the Taxes and the Jobs amount to LIQUID GOLD! New York State has made a terrible decision. All of this Income, and other Benefits, will be going to Red States, and some Blue, where Data Centers are sought as Cash Cows, with Lower Taxes and Record Setting Jobs. They must pay for their own Water and Power, and any leftover goes back to the State and local Community. Data Centers are tremendous WINS for the States and Communities that are lucky enough to get them. New York should change its Policy, IMMEDIATELY. The Radical Left Dumocrats must not be allowed to cause us to lose Data Centers, AI, and all of this incredible new Technology, to China, and other countries!”
The full data-centers ordinance is the last item in this agenda packet here.
