Chester County approves six-month pause on data center development
The Chester County Council approved a six-month moratorium on data center applications Monday, becoming the latest local government to enact a pause on the controversial developments.
The county said in a news release the moratorium will allow it to gather expert testimony and further research about data centers, but emphasized the approval was not a “permanent decision.”
The county will hold a series of public workshops that will focus on topics such as community, economic and environmental impact of the data centers. Information about these workshops will be released at a later date.
“This pause gives us the opportunity to learn from experts, hear from residents, and continue to develop policies that serve the best interests of our community,” Council Chair Pete Wilson said in the news release.
The moratorium follows April’s unanimous passage of zoning regulations that specified which zoning districts data centers would be allowed in.
Data centers, which house the equipment and software needed to run artificial intelligence models, are becoming a hotbed issue among local governments and residents. There are 45 data centers constructed in South Carolina, including two in Rock Hill, according to the Datacentermap.com.
They’re also unpopular. A June Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 14% of residents would feel comfortable with a data center being built near them, and 77% are concerned data centers will raise electricity costs.
Neighboring York County is considering similar limitations. The Planning and Zoning Committee recommended a data center moratorium in May, which underwent a first reading by the county council this Monday.
The Charlotte City Council unanimously approved a 150-day moratorium on June 8. Several other North Carolina counties have implemented yearlong pauses.
