York County weighs 9-month moratorium on new data centers: What we know

YORK COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - York County residents said they finally feel heard as county leaders take the first step toward a temporary moratorium on data centers.

York County leaders are considering a temporary nine-month pause on new projects to take a look at those impacts to neighborhoods and natural resources.

Rebecca Cichy lives just a few hundred feet away from construction at QTS Data.

“How are they going to be able to protect us? How are they going to be able to protect the community? Making sure those guard rails are put in place,” Cichy said.

Cichy said concerns about noise and pollution are real.

“We’re humans, we’re not just fear mongering people. We’re impacted,” Cichy said.

Now, people wonder what this ordinance will mean for this ongoing project. The county said the pause would not apply to projects that have vested rights—or legal approval. In a statement, York County said in part:

“This week, York County Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to establish a temporary moratorium on data centers in unincorporated areas of the County. If approved, the moratorium would apply to all projects except those which have established vested rights. The County will provide additional details prior to the second reading of the moratorium.”

It’s not clear if QTS Data falls into that category.

QTS Data said its continuing to move forward with the York County campus. In a statement, it says:

“QTS continues to advance its York County data center campus in accordance with applicable local requirements and in close coordination with York County leaders and community partners. The project is planned to be developed in phases and represents a significant long-term investment expected to support local jobs and economic growth.

Our commitment is to be a long-term partner in York County. We value our strong working relationship with county leadership and look forward to continuing to work collaboratively to support the county’s priorities, address community concerns and ensure the project delivers lasting benefits for York County."

Homes are continuing to be built in the area along Hands Mill Highway near the data center site.

“I mean, just driving down the road people are like, ‘what is that?’ And I’ve talked to people who want to purchase homes, and you know we as agents have to disclose this,” Julie Ferraro, a real estate agent, said.

Ferraro said the project has been a worry for some homebuyers.

“I have yet to find somebody that says, ‘oh yea, I don’t have a problem with that, you know that’s fine. I’ll live with seven, eight, 10 years of construction noise in my backyard and dust flying all over the place and cracking things. Yea, that’s great. I can do that.’ It’s, it’s not feasible,” Ferraro said.

Some people in the area believe the first reading could be a step in the right direction.

“We are hopeful that it’s going to slow down the process. We feel like the county council saw, and heard us, because we’ve had a large presence at all the county council meetings,” Ginger Thompson said.

Questions remain about the unknown long-term impacts these projects may have on communities.

“We don’t know how that’s going to affect not just the animals, but the people also,” Thompson said.

York County Council will have its third reading and public hearing for this ordinance on July 13.