Berkeley County SC Weighs Lifting Solar Moratorium Amid Energy Concerns

Berkeley County, South Carolina, is emerging as a focal point in the solar energy debate after officials moved to lift a moratorium on utility-scale solar projects. Instituted in 2023, the ban has drawn attention from industry leaders, including RWE, which is urging the county to reverse the restriction.

The county’s land use committee voted this week to recommend lifting the moratorium. The decision follows concerns raised by state utility Santee Cooper about energy prices, which have risen roughly 20% over the past three years, according to the Electricity Price Hub.

At a hearing Monday, councilmember Amy Stern stated,

"They flat out said they need more power. They’re not going to have enough power by 2029. We are going to have more of this [discussion]. The moratorium lifting, all it does is allow us to get more information."

RWE has proposed rezoning land for a utility-scale solar farm that would generate 198 megawatts—enough to power 37,000 homes. However, the proposal has faced significant backlash from residents who oppose large-scale solar projects in the area.

Public opinion modeling shows overall support for renewable energy in Berkeley County, but the Heatmap Pro database indicates a substantial opposition risk score of 62. The hearing room was packed with vocal opponents, prompting the council to threaten intervention by the local sheriff.

Berkeley County supervisor Johnny Cribb voiced his opposition to lifting the moratorium, stating,

"I’m against large-scale solar farms in this county, because of the reality of our county."

Texas County Temporarily Bans New Data Centers

In a separate development, Hill County, Texas, has taken an unusual step by voting to temporarily halt approvals for new data center developments. The county commission approved a one-year moratorium to study the impacts of such projects, a move that defies long-standing state laws prohibiting such zoning restrictions.

The county’s legal counsel warned that the decision could lead to lawsuits, yet commissioners proceeded, aligning with a growing trend of Texas counties enacting industrial development restrictions. Hill County, a Republican-leaning ex-urb of Dallas represented by Rep. Jake Ellzey, has one of the worst data center opposition scores in Texas, according to Heatmap Pro.

New Jersey Town Bans Data Centers After Public Backlash

In New Jersey, the town of Andover in Sussex County has reversed its stance on data centers, imposing a complete ban on new projects. Mayor Thomas Walsh Jr. announced the decision in a statement, citing fierce public opposition that led to police intervention at a recent hearing.

The town will also repeal a land use ordinance that had previously allowed data center developments. The rapid shift reflects growing community resistance to industrial projects in the rural Jersey Highlands region.