By Vic MacDonald, Regional Editor
In just over a month, Colleton County Council went from having a Data Centers moratorium, to allow more study, to a “Digital Infrastructure Overlay” that sets the place where the county’s first such facility could be located, under the county’s revised rules.
In spite of protestors outside Monday, the Council adopted on 3rd, final reading the ordinance that could clear the way for a Data Center — and, perhaps, an accompanying power plant — to be built on Mount Carmel Road.
Video of the Sept. 14 meeting is not available for viewing on the county council website.
The ordinance’s Public Hearing was held in the council’s limited-space chambers, designated from 5:30 to 6 p.m. The Coastal Conservation League sponsored a protest outside the courthouse starting at 4:30 p.m.
Ten people got a chance to speak to the council about the local impact of a nationwide concern — how Data Centers affect the environment and the power grid, and what kind of data is being stored on these campuses anyway.
One published report said, “Officials in more than 10 states, including Illinois, New Jersey and Washington, have slammed the brakes on tax breaks for data centers. The reversals underscore how state leaders who once welcomed the facilities powering the AI boom as an economic engine suddenly treat them like a political liability.”
The Coastal Conservation League posted a video and this statement:
“We are grateful for everyone that showed up and spoke out at the Colleton County Public Hearing for the ‘digital infrastructure overlay’ that would permit data center development in the ACE Basin and rural areas. We thank everyone for their time, passion, and advocacy to protect our beautiful landscapes. Over 100 people attended, and several residents came to speak out to oppose the overlay.
“Unfortunately, we did not get the result we wanted. Colleton County Council passed the overlay unanimously. While we are deeply frustrated and disappointed that the zoning amendment passed, the work continues. We will continue to challenge the development of data centers in our protected and vulnerable areas, and we will keep showing up for the ACE Basin and rural areas.
“In the meantime, we hope you can support our partners that are also working to prevent harmful data centers from damaging our natural areas and keep the pressure on.”
After the county council gave the Digital Infrastructure Overlay ordinance, related to Data Centers and Battery Energy Storage Systems, its 2nd reading on the Friday evening of Labor Day weekend, the county issued its own statement.
According to reports from inside the council chambers, speakers talked about the economic “upside” of having a Data Center in this. a “high poverty” community. Others said AI* facilitated by these campuses will, in the long run, cost Americans’ their jobs.
The County’s Data-Centers-are-allowed-to-be-built-here ordinance went from moratorium status to enacted in 39 days.
The Planning Commission saw it on Aug. 7 (a Friday noon called meeting). The County Council read it by title on Aug. 10. The 2nd reading was accomplished on Sept. 4 (regular meeting changed from first Monday because of Labor Day). Final reading was done on Sept. 14.
The County advertised the Sept. 14 Public Hearing in the Aug. 13 Press & Standard.
The Public Hearing agenda says nothing about a time-limit per speaker or an overall time limit for the hearing.
In its background info, in calling for a peaceful protest, the Coastal Conservation League says, “As proposed, the DIO would allow data centers to be approved without public notice and without a vote by any board or commission. It could open the door to the largest data center in South Carolina, a 1-gigawatt facility that would use nearly as much electricity as 1 million homes, in the ACE Basin and Rural District-1 and Rural District-2 zones. The overlay also allows for on-site energy generation, raising concerns that polluting ‘pop-up power plants' could be built alongside data centers in vulnerable rural areas.
“The ACE Basin is one of the largest relatively undeveloped estuaries along the Atlantic Coast, and it flows through much of Colleton County. It’s widely considered South Carolina’s flagship conservation success story. Nearly 3,500 community members and conservation advocates from Colleton County and surrounding areas have reached out to tell council members that they don’t want data centers in the ACE Basin or their rural areas.”
There’s a good chance that these “pop-up power plants” will be fueled by coal.
Related to power plants, the federal EPA made this announcement Monday: “At the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial today in Houston, Texas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the repeal of the majority of the Biden administration's greenhouse gas requirements for U.S. power plants, an action the agency projects will save $310 billion, and proposed rescinding every remaining greenhouse gas standard for the power sector. If finalized, the new proposal would save an additional $370 million in direct compliance costs, in addition to the billions more American families and businesses can expect to see saved across the economy. Together, the moves restore reliable and affordable baseload power for the communities that depend on them. Administrator Zeldin was joined by U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum and National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) Executive Director Jarrod Agen for the announcement.
“The Trump EPA is taking these actions in accordance with the law and based on the best reading of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA’s final rule is expected to unleash the full potential of America’s vast energy resources, including coal and natural gas. Coal production for power sector use is expected to increase by more than 10 times. …
“‘During periods of peak electricity demand, coal and natural gas continue to play a critical role in keeping the lights on,’ said Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. ‘Today’s announcement will help ensure reliable electricity generation regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining by allowing coal and natural gas plants to keep generating power when Americans need it most. Unlike past administrations that prioritized the interests of climate alarmists, President Trump promised to put the American people first and he is delivering.’”
In addition to the Data Centers controversy, Colleton County is the site (Canadys community/Edisto River) of a planned gas plant that could produce 2,200 megawatts of power for Dominion Energy. A Texas company, Kinder Morgan, will supply the plant through a gas pipeline in Hampton and Colleton counties.
A lawsuit related to this $5 Billion project appears headed for an appeal to the South Carolina Supreme Court over environmental issues. The legal action dates to May when the plant was approved by the Public Service Commission, and later denied for a reconsideration. Property owners John Burbage and Lauren V. Moody Stanfill are opposing the plant in court.
This project too involves the environmentally sensitive ACE Basin.
The next Colleton County Planning Commission meeting is Sept. 28 (5:30 pm); the next Colleton County Council meeting is Oct. 5 (6 pm).
*AI = Artificial Intelligence; “The rise of powerful AI will either be the best or the worst thing ever to happen to humanity.” - scientist/futurist Stephen Hawking
