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Data Centers Target Black Communities After White Town Rejects
6 Jan
Summary
- Developers moved proposed data center to a Black community after Georgia rejection.
- A new $5 billion gas plant is planned to power the data center complex.
- Black Americans face the highest death rates from fine particulate pollution.
Developers are proposing one of the South's largest data center complexes in Colleton County, South Carolina, a move that followed rejection from a predominantly white community in Georgia. This significant project, envisioned to span 1,200 football fields, has spurred a strong response from local Black residents concerned about environmental justice and the disruption of their traditional rural lifestyles. Activists like Paul Black emphasize that such polluting industries are frequently situated in Black and brown communities, which often lack the empowerment to resist.
The proposed nine data centers and two substations are slated for an area rich in woods and wetlands. To meet the substantial energy demands, Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy South Carolina are pushing for a new $5 billion gas power plant on the Edisto River. This plant has drawn warnings from environmental advocates about its potential impact on air quality, water resources, and critical wildlife habitats. Furthermore, the Trump administration's directive to fast-track AI data centers on contaminated federal sites, some near this area, adds another layer of concern.
