Data centers in South Carolina

7 data centers and projects on our map in South Carolina, including 6 projects we track in detail. Each one links to its source. Below: where they are by county, the projects in the news, and the latest reporting from both sides.

2existing and up and running 2under construction 0proposed 3blocked, paused or withdrawn

See South Carolina on the map. Existing facilities come from OpenStreetMap, a community-maintained public map that is incomplete; proposed, under construction and blocked projects are tracked one by one from news, filings and official records.

Projects in the news

Blocked, paused or withdrawn Special exception vote did not proceed after a meeting notice problem, county advanced a moratorium in 2026

ACE Basin Data Center Proposal

Walterboro, Colleton County · Operator: Eagle Rock Partners

1000 MW · $6 billion

A proposed 859 acre, roughly one gigawatt data center in the ACE Basin watershed in the South Carolina Lowcountry. About 400 residents attended the December 2025 zoning hearing in opposition, seven state lawmakers formally objected, and the county moved toward a moratorium.

Issues raised: water, power, opposition, zoning

Source: The Post and Courier · On the map

Blocked, paused or withdrawn One year countywide moratorium adopted September 23, 2026

Kershaw County Data Center Moratorium

Camden, Kershaw

announced 2026-09-23

Kershaw County Council unanimously passed third and final reading of a one year moratorium on data centers, cryptocurrency mining and data processing facilities. Local officials said the pause allows time to develop zoning and permitting rules.

Issues raised: zoning, opposition

Source: WIS TV, 2026-09-23 · On the map

Blocked, paused or withdrawn Two year moratorium finalized 2026-10-14

Mount Pleasant Data Center Moratorium

Mount Pleasant, Charleston

announced 2026-10-14

Mount Pleasant town council finalized a moratorium on data center applications of at least one megawatt, extending the length from the originally proposed 120 days to two years. The pause runs through October 2028 unless council acts sooner and is meant to allow time to study the zoning code and comprehensive plan.

Issues raised: power, water, noise, zoning

Source: Live 5 News, 2026-10-14 · On the map

Under construction Two campuses broke ground in July 2026

Google Dorchester County Campuses

Ridgeville, Dorchester County · Operator: Google

$3.3 billion · announced 2026-07

Google broke ground on two campuses in Dorchester County, one in Ridgeville and one in a commerce park near St. George, as part of a 3.3 billion dollar South Carolina expansion. Local debate centers on groundwater use in the Lowcountry and on Santee Cooper generation planning.

Issues raised: water, power, jobs, tax-incentives

Source: Data Center Dynamics, 2026-07 · On the map

Under construction citizens' suit dismissed October 6, 2026; appeal planned, separate formaldehyde emissions dispute still pending

Valara Data Center

Spartanburg, Spartanburg · Operator: Valara Holdings, a subsidiary of NorthMark Cloud and Compute

$2.8 billion

A $2.8 billion data center project on the former Kohler site on South Pine Street in Spartanburg County. A judge dismissed a procedural challenge from Concerned Citizens of Spartanburg County on October 6, finding no particularized harm. A second permit application for buildings and a power yard is still pending.

Issues raised: opposition, zoning, air-pollution, power

Source: WRDW, 2026-10-07 · On the map

Operating Operating since 2008 and expanded several times

Google Berkeley County Data Center

Moncks Corner, Berkeley County · Operator: Google

$2.4 billion

Google announced its Berkeley County site in 2007 and has since invested about 2.4 billion dollars, employing more than 400 people on site. The campus drew a long running fight over groundwater after Google sought to triple its permitted withdrawal to 1.5 million gallons a day, a request dropped under pressure from state regulators and environmental groups.

Issues raised: water, power, jobs, opposition, tax-incentives

Source: The Post and Courier · On the map

By county

Berkeley County 1 on the map
Google Berkeley County Data Center
Charleston 1 on the map
Mount Pleasant Data Center Moratorium
Colleton County 1 on the map
ACE Basin Data Center Proposal
Dorchester County 1 on the map
Google Dorchester County Campuses
Kershaw 1 on the map
Kershaw County Data Center Moratorium
Spartanburg 1 on the map
Valara Data Center

Latest news from South Carolina

Supports the case against local October 14, 2026

Mount Pleasant finalizes two year pause on data center development

The Mount Pleasant town council approved a moratorium on new data center applications and permits, extending the length from the originally recommended 120 days to two years. The pause runs through October 2028 unless council acts earlier, and it applies to facilities of at least one megawatt. Council members said the extra time is needed to study where data centers should be allowed under the town zoning code and comprehensive plan.

Live 5 News Local opposition and consent Siting, zoning and standards

Check it: The two year window is longer than most local moratoria and starts without a specific project in review, so its effect depends on whether permanent rules replace it before 2028.

Supports the case for legal October 8, 2026

Spartanburg judge dismisses lawsuit challenging $2.8B Valara data center

A South Carolina state judge dismissed a Southern Environmental Law Center backed challenge to the Valara data center on South Pine Street in Spartanburg County for lack of standing and failure to exhaust administrative remedies. The Concerned Citizens of Spartanburg County group plans to appeal. A separate SELC challenge over a formaldehyde air permit for the same project is still pending.

Fox Carolina Local opposition and consent Air quality and on-site power Siting, zoning and standards

Check it: The dismissal is procedural, not on the merits; the air permit case continues and the ruling can still be appealed.

Supports the case for legal October 7, 2026

Judge dismisses citizens' suit against $2.8 billion Valara data center in Spartanburg County

Circuit Judge J. Derham Cole Jr. threw out a case brought by Concerned Citizens of Spartanburg County against Valara Holdings and the county, finding the group had not shown the particularized harm South Carolina law requires and had missed a 10 day window to appeal the project's zoning classification. The Southern Environmental Law Center plans to appeal and a separate dispute over formaldehyde emissions from a planned power station is still live.

WRDW Local opposition and consent Siting, zoning and standards Air quality and on-site power

Check it: The dismissal was on procedural grounds, not on the merits of noise, dust or health claims. Look at what the appeals court does with the standing argument.

Supports the case against local September 29, 2026

Fairfield County, South Carolina sets 12 month moratorium schedule with public town halls

Fairfield County released a detailed timeline for its 12 month data center moratorium adopted September 14, including three public town halls on October 22, January 7, and January 21, a Planning Commission public hearing March 25, and County Council votes expected to conclude by June. Staff will study power, water, and road impacts and update the Land Management Ordinance.

WIS News 10 Local opposition and consent Siting, zoning and standards Water use

Check it: No current data center project is pending in Fairfield County; the moratorium is to write rules before applications arrive.

Supports the case against local September 23, 2026

Kershaw County South Carolina passes one year data center moratorium

The Kershaw County Council unanimously approved third and final reading of an ordinance imposing a one year moratorium on new data centers, cryptocurrency mining and data processing facilities. Council members said the pause gives the county time to develop zoning and permitting rules. Only one resident spoke at the hearing and supported the pause.

WIS TV Local opposition and consent Siting, zoning and standards

Check it: Whether the ordinance took immediate effect and whether any pending applications are grandfathered.

Weighing it up

For the arguments behind these fights, see the case for data centers, the case against, and the questions people ask, each answered from both sides.