Commission recommends county adopt data‑center and crypto‑mining amendments while monitoring pending state bill

The Edgefield County Planning Commission on Feb. 12 recommended approval of draft ordinance language addressing data centers and crypto‑mining and resolved to track a pending state bill that could affect local authority.

A presenter reading from the draft outlined multiple sections of the proposed state chapter — reciting section numbers and saying the state has formed a data‑center development office. "The state has developed a data center development office," the presenter said, and cited provisions "to provide for decommissioning plans and financial assurances associated with decommissioning," as well as sections that seek to limit noise, vibration and light impacts and protect confidential information.

Staff and commissioners discussed the interplay between state regulation and local land‑use authority. Unidentified Speaker 2 said the county cannot enforce items outside its jurisdiction and recommended the commission adopt what it wants locally now and revise text if the state later preempts specific uses. "If the state allows it, then we can come back and we can add, modify, and change our own text to meet up with their requirements," staff said.

Commissioners voted by voice to recommend approval of the draft language as presented. Staff said the commission will monitor the legislative process — the presenter referenced the bill number as S0867 — and will notify the commission of changes. The commission emphasized it can be more restrictive than the state where permitted, for example by limiting the use to industrial zoning or adding local setback or screening requirements.

Why it matters: The draft seeks to create locally coordinated rules for a high‑impact use that has both environmental and infrastructure implications. Commissioners flagged county limits on utilities (staff noted a county 1.8‑megawatt line and limited sewer capacity) as practical constraints on siting large data centers.

What’s next: Staff will continue to follow the state legislative process and return to the commission with recommended edits if the state statute ultimately restricts or preempts local regulatory options.