Residents urge council to deny rezoning for proposed 162‑acre data center near Jackson Elementary

Dozens of residents addressed Kershaw County Council on Sept. 23 urging the body to deny or delay a rezoning request for a 162‑acre parcel at 771 Park Road that some developers have proposed for a large data center.

Advocates including Zakiya Mickle, environmental justice chair for the South Carolina NAACP State Conference, and local residents warned the council that clearing 162 acres would harm wildlife, increase light and noise pollution, and could strain local water and electric systems. "This parcel is equivalent to 123 football fields," Mickle said, adding that diesel generators, steady lighting and large cooling systems can produce persistent pollution and health risks for nearby residents, including students at Jackson Elementary School, which she said is less than 10 minutes from the site.

The public commenters described several categories of concern: potential increases in residential electric bills if utilities pass on new demand; high water use and possible impacts to wells and…