--- title: "Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Florence" url: https://www.hereflorence.com/data-center-florence-sc/ date: 2026-11-06T05:48:12-05:00 modified: 2026-11-06T05:48:12-05:00 author: "" site: "HERE Florence" attribution: "HERE Florence" --- # Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Florence > Data centers near Florence, SC: who decides — zoning, city council, the S.C. Public Service Commission — plus news and official links from HERE Florence. *Source: [HERE Florence](https://www.hereflorence.com/data-center-florence-sc/) — November 6, 2026 by * [Home](https://www.hereflorence.com/)›[Politics](https://www.hereflorence.com/politics-florence-sc/)›Data Center Resource CenterFlorence SC Politics & Government · Politics of Data # Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Florence Who decides where data centers go near Florence — **zoning and planning**, the **local elected board**, the **county**, the **state utility commission**, and **environmental permits** — plus what is on file and reporting from across the HERE network. Zoning & PlanningCity CouncilCountyUtility CommissionPermitsGrid Politics of Data ## Who Decides on Data Centers Near Florence DATA CENTER: NEWS, INFORMATION & RESOURCE CENTER FOR FLORENCE No local data-center vote or application is on file in HERE Florence's reporting yet. If a proposal arrives, these are the people and agencies that would decide it, and this section will track it every week. A data center in or near Florence would first need local land-use approval through City of Florence, and Florence County weighs in on land outside city limits and on tax incentives. The Public Service Commission of South Carolina is the state utility regulator; it reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees. Air and water permits come from the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. **National context:** Federal energy researchers estimate data centers used about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and could use 6.7% to 12% by 2028, which is why utility commissions, local boards, and voters are now central to where these campuses land. [U.S. Department of Energy report](https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-releases-new-report-evaluating-increase-electricity-demand-data-centers) ### What’s on file near Florence - **Nothing on file yet**No local data-center vote, rezoning, or application is on file in HERE Florence's reporting yet. When one is filed, it will appear here first. ### Who decides: zoning, councils, utility regulators & permits #### Zoning & Planning - [**City of Florence**Planning commission and zoning: rezoning requests, site plans, and the zoning ordinance→](https://www.cityofflorencesc.gov/) #### Local Elected Body - [**Florence City Council**Final votes on rezonings, annexations, and development agreements; public comment at meetings→](https://www.cityofflorencesc.gov/city-council) #### County - [**Florence County**County land use outside city limits and fee-in-lieu-of-tax (FILOT) incentive agreements for large projects→](https://www.florencecountysc.gov/) #### State Utility Regulator - [**Public Service Commission of South Carolina**State utility regulator; reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees→](https://psc.sc.gov/) - [**South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff**Represents the public interest in utility cases before the Public Service Commission→](https://ors.sc.gov/) #### Environmental, Water & Air Permits - [**South Carolina Department of Environmental Services**Issues air, water, and wastewater permits for large facilities→](https://des.sc.gov/) ### From across the HERE network - ●From HERE ColumbiaOct 27, 2026 · SC #### Data Center Rules Set to Headline SC Legislative Session COLUMBIA, S.C. — How South Carolina handles the wave of proposed data centers is shaping up as one of the biggest fights waiting for the General… - ●From HERE GreenwoodOct 23, 2026 · SC #### Greenwood Lawmakers Draft Statewide Rules for Data Centers GREENWOOD, S.C. — Two Greenwood County members of the S.C. House are writing a bill that would set statewide ground rules for data centers, from how… - ●From HERE ColumbiaOct 20, 2026 · SC #### Sen. Devine Plans Data Center Town Hall in Columbia Oct. 25 COLUMBIA, S.C. — State Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine wants Columbia residents to come with questions about data centers. She is hosting an educational town hall on… - ●From HERE SpartanburgOct 14, 2026 · SC #### Tyger River Crypto Mine Set to Become 50-Megawatt Data Center SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. — A former crypto mining site in Tyger River Industrial Park is being turned into a data-center campus, with a late-2027 target to… - ●From HERE SpartanburgNov 4, 2026 · SC #### Three Data Center Deals Clear Second Vote in Spartanburg SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Spartanburg County Council pushed three data center development agreements one step from final approval Tuesday, voting yes on second reading at a special… - ●From HERE ColumbiaOct 27, 2026 · SC #### Data Center Super PAC Spends Big for Graham COLUMBIA, S.C. — The statewide fight over data centers and the economic investment they promise has moved from county council chambers into the U.S. Senate race… - ●From HERE SpartanburgOct 24, 2026 · SC #### Council Backs NorthMark Data Center Deal Draft in Spartanburg SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Spartanburg County Council has taken the first of three votes on a development agreement for the $2.8 billion NorthMark data center going up… - ●From HERE SpartanburgOct 22, 2026 · SC #### Spartanburg County Council Revisits Valara Data Center Deal UPDATE, Oct. 23: Council approved the first reading of the development agreement by a 4-1 vote at the Thursday, Oct. 22, special meeting. Council members Grant… - ●From HERE SpartanburgOct 21, 2026 · SC #### Jones Road Data Center Deal Clears First Vote in Spartanburg SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Spartanburg County Council on Monday moved one data center forward and left another on hold, the latest turn in a months-long fight over… HERE Florence · Politics of Data BriefGet the data center white paper for Florence A plain-language briefing on who decides, what the power contracts mean for your bill, and which communities near Florence are next. Leave your email and HERE Florence will send it as soon as it is published. Building data centers, or organizing around them? Use the same form to get more information or to get your message out to Florence readers. Company website I am a residentLocal official or staffDeveloper or real estateUtility or energyBusiness ownerMediaOtherSend me the white paperHelp me get my message outBoth Email me the white paper and occasional HERE Florence updates on this issue. Unsubscribe anytime.Get the white paper / Get in touchNo spam. Industry, utility, and business inquiries go to our advertising team; everyone else joins the HERE Florence newsletter list. Updated weekly. Last updated Nov 6, 2026. Questions & Answers ## Data Centers Near Florence: FAQ ### Who approves a data center rezoning near Florence? Rezonings and site plans go through local land-use officials: in Florence that is City of Florence, Florence City Council, with Florence County handling land outside city limits and county tax incentives. Planning commissions hold public hearings and recommend; the elected board casts the final vote. ### Who approves large power contracts for data centers in South Carolina? The Public Service Commission of South Carolina is the state utility regulator. It reviews rates and the large-customer contracts and tariffs that utilities it oversees propose for data centers. ### Which South Carolina agency issues environmental permits for a data center? The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services issues the air, water, and wastewater permits a large facility needs, including permits for backup generators. ### How can a Florence resident weigh in on a data center? Speak or submit written comments at planning commission and council or board meetings, where agendas are posted in advance, and file public comments in utility cases at the state commission. The official links on this page go straight to those bodies. ### Is a data center proposed in Florence? No local data-center vote or application is on file in HERE Florence's reporting yet. This page is updated weekly, and any proposal will appear here first. HERE City Network ## Data Center Coverage Across HERE Resource centers for other HERE cities [Aiken, SC](https://www.hereaiken.com/data-center-aiken-sc/)[Beaufort, SC](https://www.herebeaufort.com/data-center-beaufort-sc/)[Chapin, SC](https://www.herechapin.com/data-center-chapin-sc/)[Charleston, SC](https://www.herecharleston.com/data-center-charleston-sc/)[Clemson, SC](https://www.hereclemson.com/data-center-clemson-sc/)[Clinton, SC](https://www.hereclinton.com/data-center-clinton-sc/)[Columbia, SC](https://www.herecolumbia.com/data-center-columbia-sc/)[Greenville, SC](https://www.heregreenville.com/data-center-greenville-sc/)[Greenwood, SC](https://www.heregreenwood.com/data-center-greenwood-sc/)[Greer, SC](https://www.heregreer.com/data-center-greer-sc/)[Hilton Head Island, SC](https://www.herehiltonhead.com/data-center-hilton-head-sc/)[Irmo, SC](https://www.hereirmo.com/data-center-irmo-sc/)[Lexington, SC](https://www.herelexington.com/data-center-lexington-sc/)[Myrtle Beach, SC](https://www.heremyrtlebeach.com/data-center-myrtle-beach-sc/)[Back to Florence Politics & Government →](https://www.hereflorence.com/politics-florence-sc/)