Beaufort County Northern Regional Plan Implementation Committee August 28, 2026, at 9AM

The Beaufort County Northern Regional Plan Implementation Committee met on August 28, 2026, with a primary focus on the environmental and community impacts of large-scale data centers proposed in the region. Grant McClure from the Coastal Conservation League presented detailed information on the energy consumption, water usage, and environmental concerns related to hyperscale data centers, including their reliance on gas power and potential effects on local water resources. The discussion highlighted the challenges of regulating these facilities, the limited success of state-level legislative efforts, and the importance of local moratoriums and zoning ordinances to manage data center siting. The committee also touched on other local projects such as the Spanish Moss Trail expansion, stormwater projects, and potential moratoriums on multifamily housing. No specific contract awards or procurement decisions were made during this meeting, but the conversation underscored the need for careful regulatory approaches to future data center developments to protect community and environmental interests.