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Residents and local officials urge moratorium, cite water, health and equity concerns over proposed data centers
Summary
Mayors, council members and residents at a Fairfield County session pressed for moratoria and stricter local rules, citing water‑table strain, thermal discharge, generator emissions and the use of nondisclosure agreements by developers.
At a public information session on data centers, several Fairfield County residents and elected officials urged immediate caution and in some cases a temporary moratorium on new data center projects until the county completes local studies and adopts strict siting and permitting rules.
Mayor Greg Gagnard of Jenkinsville asked presenters about heat, pollution and transmission lines and warned that Fairfield County lacks the water to cool large data centers. Multiple residents voiced concern about health impacts, water contamination, and a history of infrastructure projects being sited in predominantly Black or low‑income areas. One participant urged county leaders not to “go along to get along” and called for aggressive protections for local residents.
Carl Bell (District 4) said his own report covers the technical questions raised in public comments and asked for clarity on state legislation, including a Senate bill referred to in the session as Senate Bill 867. Attendees pointed to other counties that have imposed moratoria (Newberry and Chester were cited as examples) and urged Fairfield County to consider a similar pause to allow a coordinated regional study, drafting of standards, and negotiation of community benefits.
Representative Annie McDaniel told the meeting that county councils retain zoning authority and can choose to approve or reject data center proposals; she said two bills that addressed development and moratoria earlier in the legislative year had not passed and pledged to consult sponsors about reintroducing them. Participants asked county staff and council members to refuse nondisclosure agreements and to seek public disclosure of water, power and emissions data as part of permitting or incentive decisions.
No ordinance or moratorium was adopted at the session. Organizers and presenters agreed to circulate slides and the council said it would consider placing the topic on a future agenda for further study and potential action.
