Mount Pleasant Moves Toward 120-Day Pause on Data Centers

The town’s Planning Committee has recommended a temporary moratorium while leaders consider how future large-scale data centers should be regulated.

Mount Pleasant leaders are considering a temporary pause on new data center development as concerns around water, power usage, noise, and long-term land use continue growing across South Carolina.

The town’s Planning Committee voted Aug. 31 to recommend a 120-day moratorium on data centers, sending the proposal to full Town Council for consideration.

The moratorium is not in effect yet.

For now, it is a recommendation designed to give town staff time to review existing rules and decide whether Mount Pleasant needs more specific standards for future data center proposals.

Why Mount Pleasant is looking at data centers now

The discussion comes as large-scale data center projects across South Carolina have generated growing debate over electricity demand, water usage, noise, infrastructure, and environmental impact.

Mount Pleasant officials say they are trying to get ahead of the issue rather than respond after a major proposal arrives.

Mayor Will Haynie told the committee that no developer has currently asked to build a large-scale data center east of the Cooper River.

That makes the proposed moratorium a proactive planning move.

The town’s official agenda center confirms the Planning Committee met Aug. 31, the same meeting where the moratorium recommendation was discussed.

Water capacity is one of the biggest concerns

One of the clearest issues raised during the meeting was water.

Mount Pleasant Waterworks General Manager Allan Clum said customers using more than 3 million gallons of water per month require a groundwater permit.

Clum also said he does not believe the Mount Pleasant service area would meet the requirements for such a permit for a large-scale data center.

Haynie pointed to the town’s limited natural-resource capacity as one of the reasons he does not expect a hyperscale data center to locate in Mount Pleasant.

That distinction matters.

Town leaders are not necessarily targeting small server rooms or backup data facilities used by local businesses. The concern is centered more on the much larger facilities that can require significant amounts of power, water, and land.

Some residents want Mount Pleasant to go further

Public concern has also played a role in the discussion.

At the committee meeting, some residents called for stronger restrictions — including a complete ban on large data centers.

Others raised questions about constant noise, water demand, power consumption, and the effect major facilities could have on nearby neighborhoods.

The current recommendation stops short of a permanent ban.

Instead, the proposed 120-day moratorium would give the town time to study the issue and rewrite or clarify development rules if officials decide changes are necessary.

Mount Pleasant is not alone

The debate is part of a broader statewide conversation.

Colleton County recently approved a six-month moratorium on data center development while reviewing similar concerns around utility demand and environmental impacts.

That makes Mount Pleasant the latest Lowcountry community to consider whether its zoning and infrastructure rules are prepared for the rapid growth of the data center industry.

What happens next?

The next step is a vote by the full Mount Pleasant Town Council.

Until that happens, there is no active 120-day pause.

If Council approves the measure, town staff would have a temporary window to study future regulations before new large-scale data center proposals could move forward.

For residents, the bigger question is whether Mount Pleasant eventually adopts tighter development standards — or decides its existing zoning and infrastructure limitations already make hyperscale projects unlikely.

For now, the town is signaling that it wants the rules in place before a major proposal lands on the table.

What’s Going On In Charleston will continue following the proposed moratorium and will update this story when Town Council takes action.