Pins matching place:SC

South Carolina HB 4583, the South Carolina Data Center Responsibility Act (bipartisan: Reps. Cromer, Gilreath, Oremus, Chumley, White, Reese, Lawson, Atkinson), introduced January 13, 2026, mandates closed-loop cooling systems requiring zero net water withdrawal and net zero wastewater discharge, and prohibits data centers from extracting groundwater or using municipal water for cooling. As of early 2026, the bill remains in the House. Companion bills include S 867 (data center development), H 902 (data centers), and H 724 (commercial data center water usage report). Part of a broader SC legislative push as the state hosts billions in Google data center investment. VERIFIED 2026-05-26: Did not advance before South Carolina's regular session adjourned May 14, 2026 (carryover possible in the 2-year biennium). The SC Senate did pass budget provisos requiring annual data center water-use reporting ($10k/day penalty) and an economic-incentive moratorium.

South Carolina S. 867, the 'Data Center Development Act', introduced January 29, 2026, is sponsored by Sens. Tom Davis (R-Beaufort, primary sponsor), Kimbrell, Garrett, Sutton, Walker, Blackmon, Turner, Zell, Kennedy, and Devine. The bill requires a state permit before a new data center can operate, and regulates permitted data centers on locations, water usage, infrastructure costs, and financial assurances. Sen. Davis described it as a 'middle ground' approach. Separately, H4583, the 'South Carolina Data Center Responsibility Act', is sponsored by Reps. April Cromer (R-Anderson), Gilreath, Oremus, Chumley, White, Reese, and Atkinson. Additional related bills include S. 724 (commercial data center water usage reporting) and S. 3401 (technology transparency). A gigawatt-scale data center proposal in the Lowcountry drew significant opposition from local residents and a bipartisan group of legislators representing Colleton County. VERIFIED 2026-05-26: Did not advance before South Carolina's regular session adjourned May 14, 2026 (carryover possible in the 2-year biennium). The SC Senate did pass budget provisos requiring annual data center water-use reporting ($10k/day penalty) and an economic-incentive moratorium.