Speaker 6 (Unidentified speaker) introduced data centers and crypto‑mining as new business and said the commission had discussed whether a moratorium was needed. Speaker 1 then walked through a streamlined draft ordinance intended as a starting point for county council review.

Under the draft, data centers (and proposed crypto‑mining uses) would be permitted only in industrial zones and specifically forbidden in unzoned portions of the unincorporated county unless rezoned. "A data center shall be permitted in industrial zone areas and shall be specifically forbidden in unzoned portions of the unincorporated areas of the county," Speaker 1 said. The draft replaces a purely zoning‑based setback with a residence‑based limit: no data center would be permitted within 1,000 feet of a single‑ or multifamily residence.

The draft addresses operational and environmental impacts. It would require a closed‑loop cooling system to reduce water consumption and limit potable water use; Speaker 1 noted Edgefield County produces roughly "2 to 3,000,000 gallons of water a day in total," and said large facilities using open‑loop cooling could quickly exceed local supply. The ordinance requires a water consumption and sustainability plan demonstrating the facility "shall not significantly strain the county's water supply."

To manage noise and vibration, the draft requires a noise impact assessment measured at 500 feet that defines scope, sources and mitigation strategies; it also prescribes screening and an 8‑foot wall around substations and electrical yards. Speaker 5 raised concerns that vibration and EMF effects may reach beyond 1,000 feet and asked whether solid walls or other mitigation would be effective.

Energy provisions include a required energy sustainability plan, estimated peak demands and strategies to mitigate strain on transmission. The draft asks for at least a 10% offset from on‑site renewables or other sustainable alternatives. Generators must meet Tier 4 EPA emissions standards, be limited to backup/emergency use (except testing/commissioning), and testing is restricted to 10 hours per month between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The ordinance also requires a transmission‑line impact assessment that identifies needed upgrades and potential environmental impacts, and a decommissioning plan requiring certified recyclers that follow the R2 standard for electronics recycling. Annual compliance reports would be required, and applications must include a letter of intent from the relevant utility confirming preliminary coordination and technical feasibility.

Commission members repeatedly flagged local capacity constraints: Speaker 1 said the county's existing transmission lines include a Dominion line serving the industrial park and a Santee Cooper line in the north side of the county with roughly "5 megawatts at the most," and that large data centers could require upgraded transmission. Commissioners asked staff to request technical studies from utilities and, if necessary, the Public Service Commission to understand rate‑impact risks for residents.

Next steps: staff will circulate the draft and supporting research, and commissioners will return markups and technical questions to be included when the package goes to county council for review.