South Carolina Should Welcome Data Centers
March 02, 2026
South Carolina Should Welcome Data Centers
By Danny Black
In South Carolina and across the country, data centers are increasingly dotting the landscape, delivering the internet services, applications and on-line experiences we rely on every day.
Today, more than 30 data centers operate quietly and without fanfare throughout South Carolina. Many have been here for years without conflict or controversy. From the metro areas of Charleston, Columbia and Greenville-Spartanburg to smaller municipalities like Aiken, Seneca and York, data centers have found a welcoming home in the state.
And the welcome mat is still out as more companies look to South Carolina as an attractive location for new centers.
Data center operators exist across a remarkable spectrum, from scrappy startups to some of the world's most powerful tech companies. At the top end are hyperscalers—large-scale cloud services providers like Google and Meta who operate hundreds of massive facilities globally and have a growing presence in our state.
Then there are smaller, specialized operators - startups and regional players who might operate just one or two facilities, perhaps targeting specific industries or geographic areas. Regardless of their size or ownership, without data centers, modern life would be dramatically different. The simple truth is data centers deliver:
The internet as we know it - No Google searches, social media, streaming services, or most websites. The web would be limited to small, locally-hosted sites.
Cloud storage and services - No iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. You would need to store everything locally on your own devices, and losing a device would mean losing all your data.
Email and communication - Gmail, Outlook, messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger would all disappear. We would be back to local email clients or physical mail.
Streaming entertainment - No Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, or gaming platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming. You would need physical media or local downloads for everything.
Online banking and e-commerce - No Amazon, online shopping, mobile banking apps, or digital payments. Everything would require in-person transactions.
Business operations - Companies couldn't run modern software systems, manage supply chains, process transactions, or enable remote work. Productivity would plummet.
Mobile apps - Most smartphone apps depend on data centers for their backend services. Your phone would become mostly a camera and calculator.
AI and modern technology - ChatGPT, voice assistants, recommendation algorithms, and most AI applications require massive data center computing power.
Despite the essential nature of data centers and the significant benefits they bring, opponents focus on concerns about energy use and water conservation in opposing their siting.
Critics argue that a data center’s power demand will drive up utility bills. Data center operators are well aware of public concerns, and many are taking proactive steps to address them, including agreeing that their projects will bear the costs of their facility’s electric demand. Proposed state legislation such as Senate bill 867 by Senator Tom Davis of Beaufort takes a common sense approach to addressing these issues.
As for cooling, it is important to know that modern data centers mostly use a closed-loop cooling system. This sealed system recirculates water after an initial fill, resulting in zero ongoing water consumption from local aquifers or rivers. It does not draw from local water resources and does not discharge any chemicals into wastewater systems. The only regular water use is standard domestic use by employees.
The establishment of data centers represents a transformative opportunity for South Carolina that can position our state as a strategic player in the digital economy. The substantial capital investment required for such facilities brings immediate economic benefits through construction spending, property tax revenues, and ongoing operational expenditures that flow through local supply chains.
These economic impacts are complemented by the creation of high-quality employment opportunities that become a catalyst for developing a skilled technology workforce trained in advanced systems management, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies that elevate the state's overall talent pool and ability to compete.
Data centers serve as a powerful magnet for complementary industries and innovation. Cloud service providers, software developers, telecommunications companies, and technology startups naturally gravitate toward regions with robust digital infrastructure, creating clusters of innovation that compound economic benefits. This clustering effect transforms the surrounding area into a technology hub, attracting venture capital, research institutions, and educational programs that further strengthen the state's competitive position.
South Carolina should welcome data centers. Without them, we would revert to a pre-internet world where computing was purely local and isolated. The connected, digital society we live in simply couldn't exist. It’s a world few of us want to revisit.
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[Danny Black is President and CEO of the SouthernCarolina Alliance, an economic development group serving Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties.]