Environmental Group Files Lawsuit to Halt Data Center Zoning in South Carolina's ACE Basin
January 13, 2026 A major legal challenge has emerged in South Carolina, highlighting the growing tension between rapid data center expansion and environmental conservation. The lawsuit, filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), targets a recent zoning change in Colleton County that could pave the way for large-scale data center development within a sensitive ecological region. The SELC, representing two county residents, has sued Colleton County alleging that an ordinance passed in November 2025 violates state law, the county's comprehensive plan, and its own zoning code. The ordinance added data centers as a 'special exception' to two rural development districts, specifically within the Ashpoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin. The SELC argues the county failed to provide proper public notice before passing the measure. The legal action directly impacts a proposed 859-acre, nine-building data center campus with a planned capacity of 1 gigawatt, proposed by real estate developer Eagle Rock Partners. The project's rezoning application was considered in a contentious public meeting on December 18 but remains undecided. The SELC contends that such industrial development threatens the "legacy of conservation" protected by the Basin's large conservation easements and the "rural character cherished by residents." This case is a significant test for a state experiencing a surge in data center interest. While not a traditional hotspot, South Carolina has attracted major investments, including a $9 billion commitment from Google for campus expansions last October and a federal initiative for a data center at the Savannah River Site. The lawsuit's outcome could set a precedent for how local governments balance economic development driven by AI and computing demand against environmental protection and community planning laws. Source: datacenterdynamics
