Gov. Henry McMaster said this week that he does not plan to call — at least not at this time — for a statewide data center moratorium as residential pushback grows and more counties hit pause on construction.
But McMaster told reporters Wednesday in Columbia that he understands why there are questions and why a handful of counties are choosing to pass their own rules and pause data center development for, in some cases, six months up to one year.
"The big question is where are we going to put them, where is the power going to come from, what impact is that going to have on price of power for everybody else," McMaster said.
It's unclear the total number of operating data centers in South Carolina and how many are under consideration.
At least 13 counties have so far passed data center moratoriums, including Colleton, Spartanburg and York counties, according to the South Carolina Association of Counties.
Two counties — Edgefield and Horry counties — have passed zoning ordinances that deal with data centers. And at least two counties — McCormick and Sumter counties — are considering data center regulations.
South Carolina legislators this year debated setting their own rules.
Though none passed, the General Assembly did OK a one-year budget attachment requiring large data centers to report water usage by next year — what advocates say is a start.
McMaster said not every county is suitable for a data center but those that want them have that option, saying he knows "for a fact we will need them somewhere."
There are data center pluses, McMaster added.
The question, he said, is "what are the negatives. How can we reduce those negatives?"
