As other neighborhoods and counties fight AI data centers from being built, Lexington County, South Carolina residents aren’t quite sure what they want.
County officials debated last month whether they should set rules before a large project is proposed in the area, as more rural communities seem to be the target for AI server campuses, the Post and Courier reported.
What’s happening?
Lexington County does not currently have any large-scale data centers. Current zoning would still allow a bigger project to move forward if a company won the necessary approvals and incentives.
Across South Carolina, that prospect is already taking shape. Experts say the state has roughly 20 to 30 data centers of different sizes, the Post and Courier reported. There is one hyperscale facility so far: Google’s $1.3 billion Berkeley County campus, which reportedly uses 400 megawatts of energy — enough to power the entire county for more than a year…